The Anthophorini are a large tribe in the subfamily

Apinae The Apinae are the subfamily that includes the majority of bees in the family Apidae. It includes the familiar " corbiculate" (pollen basket) bees—bumblebees, honey bees, orchid bees, stingless bees, Africanized bees, and the extinct genus '' ...

of 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 ...

. Species in this tribe are often referred to as digger bees, although this common name is sometimes also applied to members of the tribe

Centridini The Centridini are a tribe of large apid bees, many of which possess adaptations for carrying floral oils rather than (or in addition to) pollen or nectar. The floral oils are often gathered from plants of the family Malpighiaceae, though other ...

. It contains over 750 species worldwide, all of which were previously classified in the obsolete family Anthophoridae along with members of several other tribes; the vast majority of species in the tribe Anthophorini are in the genera ''

Amegilla ''Amegilla'' is a large genus of bees in the tribe Anthophorini. Several species have blue metallic bands on the abdomen, and are referred to as "blue-banded bees" and "digger bees". One of their names in english, "digger bees" is given to them ...

'' and ''

Anthophora The bee genus ''Anthophora'' is one of the largest in the family Apidae, with over 450 species worldwide in 14 different subgenera. They are most abundant and diverse in the Holarctic and African biogeographic regions. All species are solitary, th ...

''.

Description

All Anthophorini species are solitary, though many nest in large aggregations. Nearly all species make nests in the soil, either in banks or in flat ground; the larvae develop in cells with waterproof linings and do not spin cocoons. The characters used to define this group are subtle, but they are nonetheless fairly recognizable. * They are generally large (up to 3 cm), very robust, hairy bees, with visibly protruding faces, and the apical portion of the wings are studded with microscopic

papilla Papilla (Latin, 'nipple') or papillae may refer to: In animals * Papilla (fish anatomy), in the mouth of fish * Basilar papilla, a sensory organ of lizards, amphibians and fish * Dental papilla, in a developing tooth * Dermal papillae, part of ...

e. * The abdomen is often banded, and in many

Old World The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...

species of ''

'', these bands are metallic blue. * The wings often appear disproportionately short compared to other bees. * Their "buzz" is often a high-pitched whine, as they hover and feed on flowers. * Males commonly have pale white or yellow facial markings, and/or peculiarly modified leg armature and hairs.

Genera

* ''

'' * ''

'' * '' Deltoptila'' * '' Elaphropoda'' * '' Habrophorula'' * ''

Habropoda ''Habropoda'' is a genus of anthophorine 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 bumbl ...

'' * '' Pachymelus'' * †''

Protohabropoda ''Protohabropoda'' is an extinct genus of bees in the family Apidae known from a fossil found in Europe. The genus currently contains a single described species ''Protohabropoda pauli''. History and classification ''P. pauli'' was described f ...

'' *''Varthemapistra''

References

External links

Apinae Bee tribes {{Apinae-stub