''Anthophora bimaculata'' (also called green-eyed flower bee) is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

of bees.

Description

They are 8-9 mm long. The male has narrow light tergite bandages, yellow face and normally hairy middle legs clearly visible in the field. The females are Clypeus yellow, but at the base with 2 large black spots, tergite 4 and 5 gray-yellow tomentose hairs, tergias with light hair ties in the field clearly recognizable. Both genders have olive green complex eyes and one very high, clearly perceptible flight sound. Habitat is important for identification. Moning2

Range

In North Africa from Morocco to Libya; a report by FRIESE (1915) from Eritrea is questionable. From Portugal through southern, central and eastern Europe, Ukraine and southern Russia to eastern Siberia (Central Baikal) and across Asia Minor and the Caucasus to Iran and Kyrgyzstan; north to Central England (allegedly also recently detected in Ireland), Denmark, Latvia, Kirov; south to Sicily (also on Corsica, no evidence from Sardinia), Albania, Bulgaria (no evidence from Greece, Israel and Iran). In central Europe in all regions in suitable habitats. Generally rare. In Germany from all federal states with the exception of Schleswig-Holstein up-to-date everywhere. Reported from all federal states in Austria with the exception of Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. In Switzerland currently from Graubünden and Valais, historically from Lake Geneva, Lake Thun and Lake Biel as well as Ticino, Mesox and Domleschg.

Habitat

In sandy areas in lower locations: inland dunes and fields of drifting sand, sand pits, sandy embankments and ruderal places, forest edges and forest clearings. Nests on vegetation-free, flat surfaces or in small trailing edges. Nests only in fine and medium sands (drifting sand, weathered sand).

Ecology

Nests in self-dug cavities in the earth. Nests are found both in early succession stages with only little vegetation cover as also in late stages with heavy coverage. Nests have been found in the root balls of silver grass clusters. A main tunnel is 4-5 cm long deep in the ground. Under favorable conditions in small to large aggregations. Polylectic species (8 plant families). Known pollen sources are:

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae ...

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Centaurea scabiosa ''Centaurea scabiosa'', or greater knapweed, is a perennial plant of the genus ''Centaurea''. It is native to Europe and bears purple flower heads. Greater knapweed is found growing in dry grasslands, hedgerows and cliffs on lime-rich soil. Upri ...

'', ''

Centaurea stoebe ''Centaurea stoebe'', the spotted knapweed or panicled knapweed, is a species of '' Centaurea'' native to eastern Europe, although it has spread to North America, where it is considered an invasive species. It forms a tumbleweed, helping to inc ...

'', ''

Cirsium vulgare ''Cirsium vulgare'', the spear thistle, bull thistle, or common thistle, is a species of the Asteraceae genus ''Cirsium'', native throughout most of Europe (north to 66°N, locally 68°N), Western Asia (east to the Yenisei Valley), and northwes ...

, Picris hieracioides, Hypochoeris radicata'';

Boraginaceae Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. The APG IV system from 2016 classifies the Boraginaceae as single family of the orde ...

: ''

Echium vulgare ''Echium vulgare'', known as viper's bugloss and blueweed,Dickinson, T.; Metsger, D.; Bull, J.; & Dickinson, R. (2004) ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Toronto:Royal Ontario Museum, p. 203. is a species of flowering plant in the bora ...

, Anchuso officinalis'';

Campanulaceae The family Campanulaceae (also bellflower family), of the order Asterales, contains nearly 2400 species in 84 genera of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and rarely small trees, often with milky sap. Among them are several familiar garden plants be ...

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Trifolium arvense ''Trifolium arvense'', commonly known as the hare's-foot clover, rabbitfoot clover, stone clover or oldfield clover, is a flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. This species of clover is native to most of Europe, excluding the Arctic zone ...

'';

Hypericaceae Hypericaceae is a plant family in the order Malpighiales, comprising six to nine genera and up to 700 species, and commonly known as the St. John's wort family. Members are found throughout the world apart from extremely cold or dry habitats. '' ...

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Hypericum perforatum ''Hypericum perforatum'', known as St. John's wort, is a flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae and the type species of the genus '' Hypericum''. Possibly a hybrid between '' H. maculatum'' and '' H. attenuatum'', the species can be found ...

'';

Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savo ...

: '' Teucrium scorodonia'';

Lythraceae Lythraceae is a family of flowering plants, including 32 genera, with about 620 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees. The larger genera include '' Cuphea'' (275 spp.), '' Lagerstroemia'' (56), '' Nesaea'' (50), '' Rotala'' (45), and '' Lythru ...

: ''

Lythrum salicaria ''Lythrum salicaria'' or purple loosestrifeFlora of NW Europe''Lythrum salicaria'' is a flowering plant belonging to the family Lythraceae. It should not be confused with other plants sharing the name loosestrife that are members of the family Pr ...

'';

Rosaceae Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera. The name is derived from the type genus ''Rosa''. Among the most species-rich genera are '' Alchemilla'' (270), '' Sorbu ...

: ''

Potentilla incana ''Potentilla incana'' is a plant species in the genus ''Potentilla ''Potentilla'' is a genus containing over 300Guillén, A., et al. (2005)Reproductive biology of the Iberian species of ''Potentilla'' L. (Rosaceae).''Anales del Jardín Botáni ...

''. Except for the ''Hypericum'' species, all of the above serve both sexes as sources of nectar. Within the pollen loads 3 or 4 different types of pollen can be found. The field observations also showed that the flower visits on a pollen-collecting flight are randomly strung together, depending on the offer. Parasites: ''

Ammobates punctatus ''Ammobates'' is a genus of insects belonging to the family Apidae. The species of this genus are found in Europe, Africa and South America. Species: * '' Ammobates ancylae'' (Warncke, 1983) * ''Ammobates armeniacus'' (Morawitz, 1876) * ''Am ...

'' and ''

Coelioxys rufescens ''Coelioxys'', common name leaf-cutting cuckoo bees or sharp-tailed bees , is a genus of solitary kleptoparasitic or brood parasitic bees, belonging to the family Megachilidae. Diversity The genus includes about 500 species in 15 subgenera ...

'' are known as

cuckoo bees The term cuckoo bee is used for a variety of different bee lineages which have evolved the kleptoparasitic behaviour of laying their eggs in the nests of other bees, reminiscent of the behavior of cuckoo birds. The name is perhaps best applied to ...

; in England ''

Coelioxys elongata ''Coelioxys elongata '' is a Palearctic The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa. The realm co ...

'' was also observed on the nests. Phenology: Univoltin. Flight period from the beginning of July to the end of August. Wintering as a resting larva.

Etymology

From Latin bi- "=" two "and" maculata "=" speckled ".

Taxonomy

Subgenus Heliophila KLUG, 1807. Synonyms: ''Saropoda rotundata'' (PANZER, 1798); ''Heliophila bimaculata'' (PANZER, 1798).

References

Apinae Insects described in 1798 {{Apinae-stub