Diadasia

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Apinae
Tribe: Emphorini
Genus: Diadasia

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Diadasia: //daɪəˈdeɪziə//

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

Images

Diadasia megamorpha by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Diadasia australis knabiana by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Diadasia callura by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Diadasia is a genus of bees within the family Apidae, comprising 25 species in 3 subgenera in the western United States. They are specialized pollinators, particularly of mallows and cacti, exemplified by Diadasia rinconis, known as the cactus bee in the Sonoran Desert.

Habitat

Diadasia species inhabit areas where their host plants grow, including deserts and regions with asters, bindweeds, mallows, and cacti.

Distribution

Confined to the western half of the United States, with D. diminuta extending into Canada.

Diet

Oligolectic, specialized on a relatively small number of plant species; primarily feeds on mallows and various other flowering plants.

Life Cycle

In the Sonoran Desert, specifically, Diadasia rinconis has a life cycle that revolves around the flowering of native cactus species.

Predators

Attacked by parasitoids from families Bombyliidae, Mutillidae, Ripiphoridae, and Meloidae.

Ecosystem Role

Pollinators of specific plant species, playing a critical role in the ecology of their habitats.