Trichocolletes fuscus

Trichocolletes fuscus
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Colletidae
Genus: Trichocolletes
Species:
T. fuscus
Binomial name
Trichocolletes fuscus
Batley & Houston, 2012[1][2]

Trichocolletes fuscus is a species of bee in the family Colletidae and the subfamily Colletinae. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2012 by Australian entomologists Michael Batley and Terry Houston.[1][2]

Etymology

The specific epithet fuscus (Latin: 'dusky') refers to the species' colouration.[1]

Description

The body length is about 10–11 mm. The eyes are hairy. Colouration is mainly black and dark- to orange-brown, and with pale to bright orange hair. The species has narrow gold metasomal bands.[1][2]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in central New South Wales from the western plains to the coast. The type locality is the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve in the Central Tablelands region.[1][2]

Behaviour

The adults are flying mellivores. Flowering plants visited by the bees include Daviesia ulicifolia, Dillwynia retorta, Eutaxia microphylla, Leucopogon ericoides, Leucopogon lanceolatus, Pultenaea microphylla and Templetonia aculeata.[1][2]

Male

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Batley, M; Houston, TF (2012). "Revision of the Australian bee genus Trichocolletes Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Paracolletini)" (PDF). Records of the Australian Museum. 64 (1): 1–50 [19]. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Species Trichocolletes fuscus Batley & Houston, 2012". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2026. Retrieved 2026-06-12.