Globe Mallow Bee

Diadasia diminuta

Classification

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

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Diadasia diminuta: //daɪəˈdeɪʒə dɪˈmɪnjuːtə//

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

Images

Diadasia diminuta1 by The Packer Lab. Used under a Attribution license.

Diadasia Bee Straddles Cactus Flower Carpels by Jessie Eastland. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Diadasia diminuta by The Packer Lab. Used under a Attribution license.

Diadasia on Alert by Jessie Eastland. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Diadasia diminuta, f, right, Pennington Co., SD 2018-08-10-17.32.51 ZS PMax UDR (48256363476) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Diadasia diminuta, f, back, Pennington Co., SD 2018-08-10-17.15.20 ZS PMax UDR (47499508642) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Summary

Diadasia diminuta, commonly known as the Globe Mallow Bee, is a species of chimney bee that nests in ground colonies. It is primarily associated with globemallows and is found in Central and North America.

Physical Characteristics

Diadasia diminuta is known for its unique nesting behavior, wherein entrances to nests are constructed with turret-like structures resembling little chimneys.

Identification Tips

Diadasia diminuta can be identified by its nesting behavior and its specialization on pollen from globemallows, which is not common among bees.

Habitat

This species primarily inhabits areas where globemallows grow, often characterized by dry, open ground suitable for ground nesting.

Distribution

Diadasia diminuta is found in Central America and North America.

Diet

The globe mallow bee specializes in pollen from globemallows (Sphaeralcea spp.), making this its primary food source.

Misconceptions

The common name 'Globe Mallow Bee' might confuse some into thinking it is exclusive to one particular type of mallow or that it does not play a role in pollination of other plants.