Hylaeus, Colletidae
Workbook
This elongate, non-hairy bee was frequenting the Wahlengbergia west of the house. It would work each flower for an extended time, diving well down the floral tube - no doubt to access the nectar. Images taken 28th Nov, 2018
see page 148, and page 158 (Figure d) … in Houston (2018)
Family Colletidae
This family includes many wasp-like bees … so I figured it as a good candidate to start with. I’m assuming it’s not a wasp because: the wings are not folded, and the antennae are positioned low on the face (ie a long way from the ocelli)
Subfamily Hylaeinae or Euryglossinae
Two sub-marginal cells, with second being much shorter than first
hairless, wasp-like, and with yellow or white markings on face and/or thorax
scopa absent
Subfamily Hylaeinae (NOT Euryglossinae)
???? distinguishing features relate to mouthparts - and this is not visible in these images
So now I try photo-matching, and it looks very like Hylaeus (Xenohylaeus) desertoris on page 158 …. so test if it matches the description of:
Hylaeus
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