''Allodapula'' is a genus of bees in the family
Apidae
Apidae is the largest family within the superfamily Apoidea, containing at least 5700 species of bees. The family includes some of the most commonly seen bees, including bumblebees and honey bees, but also includes stingless bees (also used for ...
, subfamily
Xylocopinae
The subfamily Xylocopinae (family Apidae) occurs worldwide, and includes the large carpenter bees (tribe Xylocopini), the small carpenter bees (tribe Ceratinini), the allodapine bees (tribe Allodapini), and the relictual genus ''Manuelia'' (tri ...
. They are similar in appearance, around 7mm in length, with swarthy head and thorax, contrasting with the brown abdomen. After the removal of a number of former species into other genera, the genus as presently defined occurs only in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
.
Biology
left, 200px, ''Allodapula'' sp. collecting Aloe pollen
The nest is inside a hollow weed or shrub stalk, and the tip of the
abdomen
The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the torso. ...
is used to close off the nest entrance.
A set of eggs are laid inside the plant stalk, in quick succession, so as to hatch together. They are placed at about the same height, above the bottom of the nest.
The
larva
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
The ...
e are fed on
pollen
Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...
, which like other bees, is carried on hairs of the hind pair of legs. The larvae are mostly fed
progressively, but being clumped together, they feed on a common food mass.
Species
*''
Allodapula acutigera''
Cockerell, 1936
*''
Allodapula brunnescens''
(Cockerell, 1934)
*''
Allodapula dichroa''
(Strand, 1915)
*''
Allodapula empeyi''
Michener, 1975
*''
Allodapula guillarmodi''
Michener, 1970
*''
Allodapula hessei''
Michener, 1971
*''
Allodapula jucunda''
(Smith, 1879)
*''
Allodapula maculithorax''
Michener, 1971
*''
Allodapula melanopus''
(Cameron, 1905)
*''
Allodapula monticola''
(Cockerell, 1933)
*''
Allodapula ornaticeps''
Michener, 1971
*''
Allodapula palliceps''
(Friese, 1924)
*''
Allodapula rozeni''
Michener, 1975
*''
Allodapula turneri''
(Cockerell, 1934)
*''
Allodapula variegata''
(Smith, 1854)
*''
Allodapula xerica''
Michener, 1971
Notes
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4733039
Xylocopinae
Bee genera
Taxa named by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell
