Biastini
Genus Guides
2Biastini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic bees within the Nomadinae ( Apidae). Members are obligate that exploit the nests of solitary bees, particularly oligolectic . The tribe has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with recent phylogenomic studies establishing that Biastini is and should be synonymized under an expanded concept of Neolarrini. The tribe includes the enigmatic Schwarzia, which exhibits unusual morphological features and represents a transitional lineage.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Biastini: /biˈæstɪnaɪ/
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Distribution
Primarily distributed in the Holarctic region, with at least two of the Schwarzia occurring in East Africa outside this core range.
Life Cycle
Development involves production and larval stages that develop as within nests; specific developmental details vary by .
Behavior
Cleptoparasitic: females enter nests to deposit , and larvae consume host provisions.
Ecological Role
As , members act as regulators of solitary and may influence host structure and foraging .
Similar Taxa
- Neolarrini (sensu stricto)Recently synonymized under an expanded Neolarrini concept based on phylogenomic evidence; historically distinguished by larval and morphological characters that proved phylogenetically misleading.
- TownsendielliniFormerly recognized as separate tribe but phylogenetically nested within Biastini; now synonymized under expanded Neolarrini.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Oocytes, Larvae, and Cleptoparasitic Behavior of Biastes emarginatus (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Nomadinae: Biastini)
- Monotypic no more – a new species of the unusual genus Schwarzia (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Biastini)
- Phylogenomic and Morphological Reevaluation of the Bee Tribes Biastini, Neolarrini, and Townsendiellini (Hymenoptera: Apidae) With Description of Three New Species ofSchwarzia