Sphecodes aroniae Mitchell, 1960
Properties
Scientific Name: Sphecodes aroniae Mitchell, 1960
Common Name: Chokeberry Cuckoo Sweat Bee
Taxonomy
Sphecodes aroniae Mitchell, 1960: 474 [♀, ♂].
Holotype ♂. USA, North Carolina, Beaufort, 20 April 1947, by T.B. Mitchell, on Aronia [USNM no. 75231]
Taxonomic Notes: Mitchell (1960: 475) incorrectly recorded the collection date of the holotype as “April 30, 1947”; the label on the holotype at the USNM indicates “Apr. 20 1947”.
DNA Barcode Index Number (BIN): BOLD:AAI0132
Distribution in Canada: Pindar 2014 [ON].
This record from Canada needs confirmation, though this species has been reconfirmed in adjacent areas of the United States. Goldstein and Ascher (2016: 69) suggested that Martha’s Vineyard, MA was likely near the northern range of this species, which may be confused with the closely related, morphologically similar, and more northern S. ranunculi Robertson, 1897.
References
Mitchell TB (1960) Bees of the Eastern United States. Volume 1. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin 141: 1-538.
Pindar AN (2014) The effect of fire disturbance on bee community composition in Oak Savannah habitat in southern Ontario, Canada. PhD Thesis, York University, Toronto. xiv + 160 pp.chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/503fc3a3-cf10-4b6b-85a2-229f7675c164/content
Sociality: Parasitic
Nesting: Ground
Pollen Specialization: Not Applicable
Wintering Stage: Adult
Crop Preference: Not Available
Non Crop Preference: Ilex sp., Aronia sp.
Distribution: Ontario
Ecozone: Mixwood Plains