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Stelis ashmeadiellae Timberlake, 1941

Properties

Scientific Name: Stelis ashmeadiellae Timberlake, 1941

Common Name: Ashmead's Cuckoo Carder Bee

Taxonomy

Stelis (Stelidium) ashmeadiellae Timberlake, 1941: 133 [♀, ♂].

     Holotype . USA, California, Puente Hills, near Whittier, reared from the pithy stem nest of Ashmeadiella californica (Asm.) collected on 2.5 February 1928, but found inside dead on 12 May 1928, by Timberlake. [CAS no. 15938]. 

 

DNA Barcode Index Number (BIN):

Diagnosis: Stelis ashmeadiellae can be distinguished from all other species in the Stelidium group of Stelis s.str. in Canada (i.e., S. permaculata Cockerell, 1898 and S. heronae Sheffield, 2024), by the combination of tergal maculations forming a complete band (shared with only two members of the permaculata group -  S. elongativentris Parker, 1987 and S. palmarum Timberlake, 1941, both of which do not occur in Canada), and extensive pale maculations on the clypeus in both sexes; the pale clypeal markings in S. elongativentris and S. palmarum are restricted to the apical margin. In addition, the maculation on the lateral vertexal area is more extensive than most species, at its widest at least 2/3 width of upper gena (Figs. 15a, b), forming a complete band across the vertexal area in the female or extending to a distance approaching the lateral ocelli in the male and extending down to at least 1/3 length of compound eye on gena; only S. elongativentris, S. palmarum, and S. herberti (also not in Canada) of the permaculata group have such extensive maculations, in all other species it is not much more than a small lateral spot.

Biology: This species is a nest parasite of Asmeadiella californica (Ashmead, 1897) (Timberlake 1941).

Distribution in Canada: Sheffield and Heron 2019 [BC]; Sheffield 2024 [BC].

Body length: ♀ 6.5 mm ♂ 6 mm

References

Timberlake PH (1941) Ten new species of Stelis from California (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 49(2): 123-137. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25004909

Sociality: Parasitic
Nesting: Cavity Renter
Pollen Specialization: Polylectic
Wintering Stage: Mature Larva

Crop Preference: Not Available
Non Crop Preference: Not Available

Distribution: British Columbia
Ecozone: Pacific Maritime

Distribution Map