Leioproctus lanceolatus

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

Leioproctus lanceolatus, or Leioproctus (Leioproctus) lanceolatus, 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 lanceolatus (Latin: "with a little lance") is an anatomical reference.[1]

Description

The male holotype body length is about 8.5 mm, head width 2.8 mm; female paratype body length 8.2 mm, head width 2.5 mm. Integumental colouration is black to dark brown; the hair is white to brown.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in arid central Australia. The type locality is 11 km west of Banjawarn Homestead in Western Australia.[1][2]

Behaviour

The adults are flying mellivores. Flowering plants visited by the bees include Eremophila margarethae, Eremophila spathulata, Eremophila granitica, Eremophila battii and Eremophila willsii, as well as Dipteracanthus species.[1][2]

Male
Eremophila spathulata, 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 [605]. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Species Leioproctus (Leioproctus) lanceolatus Houston, 1990". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-26.