Melecta (Melecta) separata callura (Cockerell, 1926)

Bombomelecta callura Cockerell, 1926: 58 [♂]. Synonymy of Melecta separata Cresson, 1879 by Linsley (1939: 445), as a valid subspecies.

     Holotype ♂. USA, California, Marin County, Mill Valley, 28 February 1929, by M.C. Van Duzee [CAS no. 2396].

Taxonomic Notes: Multiple subspecies are known (Linsley 1939; Hurd 1979) though some of these are known only from the type material and may represent variation in these taxa.

Bombomelecta separata var. maculata Viereck was originally placed into synonymy under M. separata callura (Cockerell) by Linsley (1939: 445), but later under M. separata separata Cresson by Hurd and Linsley (1951: 124). As the latter subspecific taxon has not been recorded from Canada, it is assumed that the specimens from British Columbia identified (presumably by Viereck) as “Bombomelectaseparata var. maculata Vier.” and recorded by Criddle et al. (1924: 98) likely represent M. separata callura.

DNA Barcode Index Number (BIN): BOLD:AAD8013

Biology: Linsley (1939), Hurd and Linsley (1951), and Thorph (1969) record this species as a cleptoparasite of Anthophora edwardsii Cresson, the latter study suggesting that it may account for upwards of 20% population mortality at some locations.