Anthidiini

Genus Guides

Anthidiellum(rotund resin bees)
Anthidium(Wool Carder Bees)
Dianthidium(Pebble bees)
Paranthidium
Pseudoanthidium(Small Carder Bees)
Stelis(leach orchids)
Trachusa

Anthidiini is a tribe of bees in the Megachilidae comprising at least 40 and approximately 840 described . The tribe is strongly supported as monophyletic based on molecular and morphological evidence. Members exhibit diverse nesting strategies, with many species constructing nests from plant resins, plant fibers, or other collected materials. The tribe includes economically important as well as cleptoparasitic species in the genus Stelis.

Stelis lateralis by (c) skitterbug, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by skitterbug. Used under a CC-BY license.

Dianthidium pudicum by (c) Thilina Hettiarachchi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thilina Hettiarachchi. Used under a CC-BY license.

Anthidiellum perplexum by (c) Richard Stovall, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Richard Stovall. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Anthidiini: //ænˈθɪ.di.aɪˌnaɪ//

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

Identification

Anthidiini can be distinguished from other Megachilidae tribes by the combination of (pretarsal pads between tarsal claws) that are present and well-developed, and the presence of distinct morphological features on the and mesosoma that facilitate identification to . The arolia are particularly useful signposts in dichotomous keys, as noted in identification courses. -level identification often relies on color pattern of yellow maculations on head, meso- and metasoma, though some (e.g., Trachusa interrupta group) show limited intraspecific variation in coloration with most pattern differences representing distinct .

Images

Distribution

Anthidiini has a worldwide distribution spanning the Palearctic, Nearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Australian regions. The tribe exhibits high in China, with numerous described across multiple including Anthidium (21 species), Bathanthidium (11 species), and Trachusa (9 species). In Europe, 28 species have been documented from Romania across 12 genera. The tribe includes island endemics with restricted ranges, such as Pseudoanthidium jacobii from the eastern Canary Islands.

Behavior

Nesting varies by . Resin bees in the subgenus Ranthidiellum construct resinous entrance tubes to their nests. The genus Anthidium includes 'wool-carder bees' that collect plant fibers. The genus Stelis comprises obligate that invade nests of other bees; Nearctic have documented associations exclusively within the tribe Osmiini (Megachilidae), and Stelis franconica has been observed in association with the host Osmia emarginata.

Ecological Role

Members of Anthidiini function as of wild plants and agricultural crops. Wild within this tribe contribute to pollination of entomophilous cultivated plants such as red clover and alfalfa that cannot be effectively pollinated by managed honey bees due to structural particularities of the flowers. Maintaining populations of these wild bees supports genetic diversity for improving cultivated plant .

Similar Taxa

MegachiliniBoth tribes belong to Megachilidae and share the characteristic of carrying pollen on the scopa (underside of ) rather than on the hind legs. Anthidiini is distinguished from Megachilini by the presence of well-developed between the tarsal claws, a feature used in identification keys.
OsmiiniAnother tribe within Megachilidae with which Anthidiini shares -level characteristics. Osmiini serve as documented for cleptoparasitic Stelis species within Anthidiini, and the two tribes can be separated by morphological characters including structure and male genitalia.