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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319855
Title: A review of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Townsendiella (Apidae, Nomadinae, Townsendiellini) with the description of a new species from Pinnacles National Park

Author
item ORR, MICHAEL - Utah State University
item Griswold, Terry

Submitted to: ZooKeys
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2015
Publication Date: 12/16/2015
Citation: Orr, M., Griswold, T.L. 2015. A review of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Townsendiella (Apidae, Nomadinae, Townsendiellini) with the description of a new species from Pinnacles National Park. ZooKeys. 546:87-104.

Interpretive Summary: The majority of bees provision their own nests with pollen and nectar, in the process frequently pollinating the plants they visit. But some bees do not make their own nests, rather they act as cuckoos, usurping the nests of other bees for use by their own offspring. The bee family Apidae contains a diveristy of such cuckoo bees. Among these is the rare genus Townsendiella, an inhabitant of the American Southwest. Here, we describe a new species from this group, Townnsendiella ensifera, from the South Coast Range of California. We also provide a key for distinguishing the species in this genus and suggest future research directions for these little known bees.

Technical Abstract: The cleptoparasitic bee genus Townsendiella is a rare group restricted to the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico, whose taxonomy and biology remain poorly known. This paper describes Townsendiella ensifera sp. n., apparently restricted to the South Coast and Transverse Ranges of California, and the first known record of this genus from Pinnacles National Park. A key to the species of the genus is provided. Several potential areas of future research are also discussed.