Centris errans

Fox, 1899

Wandering Centris, Florida locust-berry oil-collecting bee, spiny bear's-breech

Centris errans is a of oil-collecting in the tribe Centridini, Apidae. It is to Florida, where it is one of five Apidae species restricted to the state. The species occurs in the southernmost portion of Florida and has also been recorded in the broader Caribbean and North America regions. Like other Centris bees, it is known to collect floral oils rather than nectar from certain plants.

Centris errans by (c) USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Centris errans, F, face, San Salvador Island, Bahamas 2012-11-13-10.51.39 ZS PMax (8207797144) by USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory from Beltsville, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Centris errans: /ˈsɛn.trɪs ˈɛr.ænz/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Occurs in the southernmost portion of Florida. Specific preferences are not well documented, but related Centris are associated with dry, sandy, or scrubland environments where oil-producing plants grow.

Distribution

to Florida in the United States, specifically the southernmost portion of the state. Also recorded in the Caribbean and North America more broadly.

Diet

Collects floral oils from oil-producing plants, including Krameria . These oils are mixed with pollen to provision larvae. Does not collect nectar.

Host Associations

Krameria lanceolata - Female bees collect fatty oils from the elaiophores of Krameria flowers, pollinating the plant in the process. Krameria are wholly dependent upon Centris bees for pollination.

Behavior

Female bees collect floral oils using specialized structures on their legs. The oils are transported back to the nest and mixed with pollen as larval food. This oil-collecting is characteristic of the Centris.

Ecological Role

Important of Krameria , which are obligate outcrossers dependent on Centris bees for . The relationship is not mutually exclusive—C. errans utilizes other oil-producing plants, and other Centris species also visit Krameria.

Similar Taxa

Centris lanosaAnother oil-collecting Centris found in similar ; distinguished by specific morphological features and geographic distribution not overlapping with the Florida- C. errans.
Other Centris speciesShare the oil-collecting and general body plan, but C. errans is distinguished by its restricted Florida distribution and specific morphological characteristics.

More Details

Endemic status

One of only five from the Apidae that are to Florida, highlighting its conservation significance for the state's unique fauna.

Oil-collecting specialization

The 'Florida locust-berry oil-collecting ' refers to the ' specialized of collecting floral oils rather than nectar, a trait shared with other Centridini bees.