Leioproctus rubicundus

Leioproctus rubicundus
Female holotype and male allotype
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Colletidae
Genus: Leioproctus
Species:
L. rubicundus
Binomial name
Leioproctus rubicundus
Leijs 2018[1][2]

Leioproctus rubicundus, or Leioproctus (Colletellus) rubicundus, is a species of bee in the family Colletidae and subfamily Colletinae. It is endemic to Australia. It was described by entomologist Remko Leijs in 2018.[1][2]

Etymology

The specific epithet rubicundus refers to the colour of the female metasoma.[1]

Description

The female holotype body length is 6.1 mm, head width 2.1 mm; the male allotype body length is 5.5 mm, head width 1.7 mm. Integumental colouration is mainly black, orange and brown; the female metasoma is orange, that of the male black. The hair is white.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in southern inland Australia. The type locality is Bon Bon Station in South Australia.[2]

Behaviour

The adults are flying mellivores. Flowering plants visited by the bees include Angianthus brachypappus as well as Gunniopsis species.[2]

Flowers of Angianthus brachypappus
Angianthus brachypappus (spreading cup-flower), a forage plant of the bees

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Leijs, R; Dorey, J; Hogendoorn, K (2018). "Twenty six new species of Leioproctus (Colletellus): Australian Neopasiphaeinae, all but one with two submarginal cells (Hymenoptera, Colletidae". ZooKeys (811): 109–168 [155]. doi:10.3897/zookeys.811.28924. PMC 6323115. PMID 30627041. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Species Leioproctus (Colletellus) rubicundus Leijs, 2018". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2026. Retrieved 2026-08-08.