Amegilla chlorocyanea

Tilcayo Cats original · Amegilla · Sources and editorial assessment · Originals retention rule

Amegilla chlorocyanea is a blue-banded bee of southern mainland Australia and Tasmania. Blue or green iridescent hairs on its front and middle legs help distinguish it from similar members of Amegilla. Most of the specimens examined in a 2017 taxonomic revision came from southern Australia, although the species also occurs farther north.

Appearance

The abdominal bands are usually pale with a blue-green sheen, but some specimens have orange bands. Colour alone is therefore an unreliable identification rule. Females have black areas beside the eyes and a dense patch of pale hair on the fifth upper abdominal plate. In males, several of the rear abdominal bands are interrupted in the middle. The revision's redescribed female measured 13 mm long.

These details separate the species from Zonamegilla, another group containing blue-banded bees. A photograph showing blue abdominal stripes alone may not reveal the necessary features.

Distribution and activity

The 2017 revision describes a broad range through the arid and temperate south of mainland Australia and Tasmania. Of 2,043 specimens with known localities, 73 per cent came from south of latitude 30°S. Southern collection records peaked in January; northern records had peaks in May and October. These are patterns in the examined material, rather than a census of bee populations.

Taxonomic history

Cockerell named the species in 1914. Subsequent authors gave several names to bees that the 2017 revision brought together under A. chlorocyanea, including A. australis, A. adamsella, A. ferrisi, A. grayella, A. jamesi, A. mewiella and A. murrayi. The revisers used historical descriptions, specimens and DNA evidence to resolve those names.

Pollination research

A greenhouse experiment published in 2006 under the name A. chlorocyanea found that a single female's buzz increased tomato weight by 11 per cent compared with a mechanical pollination wand. Multiple buzzes increased fruit weight further. The result concerns that experiment and does not supply a yield forecast for every crop or growing system.