Alkali bee

Nomia melanderi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Halictidae
Genus: Nomia
Subgenus: Acunomia
Species: N. melanderi
Binomial name
Nomia melanderi
(Cockerell, 1906)

The alkali bee, Nomia melanderi,[1] is a ground-nesting bee native to deserts and semi-arid desert basins of the western United States.

It is an effective pollinator for alfalfa.[2]

It is preyed upon by the conopid fly Zodion obliquefasciatum.[3]

References

  1. "Nomia melanderi Cockerell, 1906". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  2. "...Nomia melanderi, sustainably managed to pollinate alfalfa ...", USDA
  3. Howell, J.F. (1967). "Biology of Zodion obliquefasciatum (Macq.) (Diptera: Conopidae) a parasite of the alkali bee, Nomia melanderi Ckll. (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)". Bulletin of the Washington Agriculture Experimental Station 51: 1–33.

See also

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