LIBRARY

HYMENOPTERA 707
Family ANTHOPHORIDlE 1 Kirby 1837 (An'tho-phor'i-d6pos, flowery; in reference to their flower-visiting habits). Anthophorid
Bees, Potter Flower Bees, Digger Bees, Hairy Flower Bees, Hairy.
footed Bees.
This is a large family of stout, solitary bees intermediate in size between
honeybees and bumblebees. They are of variable colors but often yellowish,
FIG. 255. The anthophorid bee, Diadasia calljornica Timberlake, male. (Redrawn and
corrected after Woodworth.)
gray, brown, or black, sometimes with metallic gold, blue, green, and copper
colors or iridescences and clothed with thick pile. Head transverse and narrower
than thorax. Ocelli distinct. Antennre short. Clypeus convex and much produced.
Tongue greatly elongated; maxillary palpi six-segmented; labial palpi
four-segmented. Legs short, strigilis well developed; tibire and basal tarsal segments
densely hairy or pubescent. Middle tarsi of males of some species with
long hairs that project in different directions; hind legs of females With widened
metatarsus and often orange-colored hairs forming a small corbicula or pollen
basket; tibia: two-spurred. Wings hyaline or clouded; fore pair with three submarginal
cells and with broad appendiculate radial cell. Abdomen broad,
wholly pubescent or with transverse pubescent fascia.
These bees usually nest in sand or clay banks and often live in large colonies.
The cells are sometimes lined with a clay paste so that they will retain the fluid
1 A proposal is now before the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature
recommending that the name Anthophora Latreille 1803, be accepted and the name Podalirius
Latreille 1802, be rejected (Richards 1937). Favorable action on the part of the Commiasion
will ensu.e the .etcntion of the former generic and the above family names.