Ceratina calcarata

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Xylocopinae
Genus: Ceratina
Species: calcarata

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ceratina calcarata: /sɛrəˈtiːnə kælˈkærətə/

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

Images

Ceratina calcarata m 1 of 2 by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Ceratina calcaratra m with white spot by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Ceratina calcarata female 2 of 2 by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Carpenter bee (Ceratina calcarata) (12941726654) by Benjamin Smith from United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Ceratina calcarata m by The Packer Lab. Used under a Attribution license.

Ceratina calcarata f by The Packer Lab. Used under a Attribution license.

Summary

Ceratina calcarata is a small carpenter bee native to eastern North America, notable for its role as a general pollinator and as a model organism in the study of social evolution.

Physical Characteristics

Small carpenter bee; females are approximately 8% larger than males.

Identification Tips

Males can be identified by the degree of development of a metafemoral tooth; females of C. calcarata and C. dupla look nearly identical.

Habitat

C. calcarata typically nests in sunny and shady sites, preferring sunnier areas, and constructs nests from small stems and broken twigs.

Distribution

Found in eastern North America, ranging from Georgia, USA, north to Ontario, Canada, and east to Nova Scotia, Canada.

Diet

Generalist pollinator known to pollinate plants like watermelon and cucumber.

Life Cycle

Nesting period occurs between late May to early July; adults overwinter in their natal nests and emerge the following spring.

Reproduction

Males lay eggs on smaller provision masses compared to females. The reproductive signal pentacosane indicates reproductive status and age in these bees.

Ecosystem Role

Important native pollinator that enhances agricultural and ecological productivity.

Economic Impact

Helps pollinate crops like watermelon and cucumber, benefiting agricultural systems.

Cultural Significance

Model organism in research for social evolution; first subsocial bee species with its genome published.

Evolution

C. calcarata is a subsocial species exhibiting extended maternal care and the ability to distinguish nest members based on chemical profiles.

Similar Taxa

Ceratina dupla

Misconceptions

Interbreeding occurs between morphologically similar species (C. calcarata and C. dupla) despite low mating rates; they should be treated as distinct species.