''Allodapula'' is a genus of bees in the family
Apidae
Apidae is the largest family within the superfamily Apoidea, containing at least 5700 species of bees. The family includes some of the most commonly seen bees, including bumblebees and honey bees, but also includes stingless bees (also used for ...
, subfamily
Xylocopinae
The subfamily Xylocopinae (family Apidae) occurs worldwide, and includes the large carpenter bees (tribe Xylocopini), the small carpenter bees (tribe Ceratinini), the allodapine bees (tribe Allodapini), and the relictual genus '' Manuelia'' (tr ...
. They are similar in appearance, around 7mm in length, with swarthy head and thorax, contrasting with the brown abdomen. After the removal of a number of former species into other genera, the genus as presently defined occurs only in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
.
Biology
left, 200px, ''Allodapula'' sp. collecting Aloe pollen
The nest is inside a hollow weed or shrub stalk, and the tip of the
abdomen
The abdomen (colloquially called the gut, belly, tummy, midriff, tucky, or stomach) is the front part of the torso between the thorax (chest) and pelvis in humans and in other vertebrates. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal ...
is used to close off the nest entrance.
A set of eggs are laid inside the plant stalk, in quick succession, so as to hatch together. They are placed at about the same height, above the bottom of the nest.
The
larva
A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...
e are fed on
pollen
Pollen is a powdery substance produced by most types of flowers of seed plants for the purpose of sexual reproduction. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced Gametophyte#Heterospory, microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm ...
, which like other bees, is carried on hairs of the hind pair of legs. The larvae are mostly fed
progressively, but being clumped together, they feed on a common food mass.
Species
*''
Allodapula acutigera''
Cockerell, 1936
*''
Allodapula brunnescens''
(Cockerell, 1934)
*''
Allodapula dichroa''
(Strand, 1915)
*''
Allodapula empeyi''
Michener, 1975
*''
Allodapula guillarmodi''
Michener, 1970
*''
Allodapula hessei
''Allodapula'' is a genus of bees in the family Apidae, subfamily Xylocopinae. They are similar in appearance, around 7mm in length, with swarthy head and thorax, contrasting with the brown abdomen. After the removal of a number of former species ...
''
Michener, 1971
*''
Allodapula jucunda''
(Smith, 1879)
*''
Allodapula maculithorax''
Michener, 1971
*''
Allodapula melanopus''
(Cameron, 1905)
*''
Allodapula monticola''
(Cockerell, 1933)
*''
Allodapula ornaticeps''
Michener, 1971
*''
Allodapula palliceps''
(Friese, 1924)
*''
Allodapula rozeni''
Michener, 1975
*''
Allodapula turneri''
(Cockerell, 1934)
*''
Allodapula variegata''
(Smith, 1854)
*''
Allodapula xerica''
Michener, 1971
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4733039
Xylocopinae
Bee genera
Taxa named by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell