Leioproctus excubitor
| Leioproctus excubitor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Colletidae |
| Genus: | Leioproctus |
| Species: | L. excubitor |
| Binomial name | |
| Leioproctus excubitor | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Leioproctus excubitor, or Leioproctus (Alokocolletes) excubitor, 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 1991.[1][2]
Etymology
The specific epithet excubitor (Latin: "sentinel") alludes to the perching habits of the bees.[1]
Description
The male holotype body length is 12 mm, head width 4.0 mm; female paratype body length 10 mm, head width 3.45 mm. Integumental colouration is mainly black; the hair is mostly white.[1]
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs in arid and semiarid regions of western and central Australia. The type locality is East Yuna Reserve some 34 km west-north-west of Mullewa, Western Australia.[1][2]
Behaviour
The adults are flying mellivores. Flowering plants visited by the bees include Asphodelus fistulosus, Dampiera incana, Eucalyptus oldfieldii, Rhodanthe charsleyae, Schoenia cassiniana, Comesperma scoparium, Grevillea didymobotrya, Solanum coactiliferum and Melaleuca nematophylla, as well as Acacia, Senna and Ptilotus species.[1][2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Houston, TF (1991). "Two new and unusual species of the bee genus Leioproctus Smith (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), with notes on their behaviour". Records of the Western Australian Museum. 15: 83–96 [84]. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- 1 2 3 4 "Species Leioproctus (Alokocolletes) excubitor Houston, 1991". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-26.