Leioproctus eremites

Leioproctus eremites
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Colletidae
Genus: Leioproctus
Species:
L. eremites
Binomial name
Leioproctus eremites
Houston, 1990[1][2]

Leioproctus eremites, or Leioproctus (Leioproctus) eremites, is a species of bee in the family Colletidae and subfamily Colletinae. It is endemic to Australia. It was described by Australian entomologist Terry Houston in 1990.[1][2]

Etymology

The specific epithet eremites (Latin: "of the desert") is a habitat and forage plant reference.[1]

Description

The male holotype body length is about 11 mm; female paratype body length is about 8.5 mm. Integumental colouration is mainly black; the hair is white to brown.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in north-west Western Australia between Newman, Cue and Carnarvon. The type locality is the Coppin Pool area, 30 km south of Mount Bruce, in the Pilbara region.[1][2]

Behaviour

The adults are flying mellivores. Flowering plants visited by the bees include Eremophila platycalyx, Eremophila cuneifolia and Ptilotus obovatus.[1][2]

Male
Eremophila cuneifolia (pinyuru), a forage plant of the bees

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Houston, TF (1990). "Descriptions of new paracolletine bees associated with flowers of Eremophila (Hymenoptera: Colletidae)". Records of the Western Australian Museum. 14: 583–621 [601]. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Species Leioproctus (Leioproctus) eremites Houston, 1990". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-25.