Agapostemon melliventris

Cresson, 1874

Honey-tailed Striped Sweat Bee, honey-tailed striped-sweat bee

Agapostemon melliventris is a sweat bee in the Halictidae, commonly known as the honey-tailed striped sweat bee. Recent taxonomic revision has clarified its status as distinct from A. fasciatus, a species previously considered synonymous. The species appears to be of Sonoran origin, with most records from the south-western United States and northern Mexico. It belongs to a characterized by metallic green coloration in females, though specific traits distinguishing A. melliventris from include amber-colored metasomal segments in females and pale coloration on specific body parts in males.

Agapostemon melliventris by no rights reserved, uploaded by Alejandro Santillana. Used under a CC0 license.

Agapostemon melliventris, F, side, Shannon Co., S. Dakota 2014-01-10-15.06.29 ZS PMax by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Sweat bee, Honey-bellied Agapostemon (Halictidae, Agapostemon melliventris (Cresson) (35650960681) by Insects Unlocked
. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agapostemon melliventris: /ˌæɡəˈpɒstɛmən ˌmɛlɪˈvɛntrɪs/

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

Identification

Distinguished from the closely related A. fasciatus by morphological characters of coloration and pattern, particularly in the metasomal segments and leg coloration. A. melliventris is generally found further south than A. fasciatus, which ranges into southern Canada. Accurate identification requires examination of specific diagnostic features rather than geographic inference alone, as the in the southern United States requires additional taxonomic work.

Images

Appearance

Females typically have at least the first three metasomal segments amber-colored, with pale maculations on the scape and apically. Males have the basal area of 1 pale amber to yellow and non-metallic (yellow or slightly greenish) . The exhibits typical of the , with females generally showing metallic green coloration on the and .

Distribution

South-western United States and northern Mexico; of apparent Sonoran origin. Most records are concentrated in this region, with the generally occurring south of the range of A. fasciatus.

Similar Taxa

Agapostemon fasciatusPreviously considered a synonym or variety of A. melliventris, but now recognized as a distinct based on morphological and genetic evidence. A. fasciatus ranges further north into southern Canada, while A. melliventris is primarily southern in distribution.
Agapostemon texanusAnother congeneric in the same with metallic green females; requires careful morphological examination to distinguish.

More Details

Taxonomic History

A. melliventris has undergone significant taxonomic revision. A. fasciatus was considered a variety of A. melliventris from the 1930s and placed into synonymy in the early 1970s. Recent morphological and barcode evidence has resurrected A. fasciatus as a valid , clarifying the status of A. melliventris as a distinct .

Ongoing Research Needs

Genetic data suggest that multiple may be present within the A. melliventris in the southern United States, indicating that additional taxonomic work is required to fully resolve boundaries in this region.