Exoneura sp. (genus)

1 A reed bee at Acton, ACT

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Identification history

	Exoneura sp. (genus)	19 Apr 2017	michael.batley
	Exoneura sp. (genus)	19 Apr 2017	PeterA

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Image provided by Nadia Talent

5 comments

PeterA wrote:

20 Apr 2017

Exoneura melaena

michael.batley wrote:

21 Apr 2017

The taxonomy of Exoneura species is in an unsatisfactory state. Many names were created by Tarlton Rayment and it is almost certain that a large number will eventually be synonymised. In addition, there has, in the past, been confusion about the true type specimens. For that reason most people familiar with the genus suggest that attempting to assign a species name to any given specimen is not presently a useful exercise.

PeterA wrote:

21 Apr 2017

Thanks for that clarification, Michael. I have a number of Exoneura specimens that I have been struggling to identify using PaDIL - the defining characteristics do not seem to be all that clear.

RogerF wrote:

21 Apr 2017

I have been observing bees feeding at the flowers of this particular euc (C.peltata) in the ANBG car park and have noticed that even after all the flowers have fallen, nectar continues to be produced in the capsules, attracting numerous bees and wasps, especially honey bees.

PeterA wrote:

21 Apr 2017

I saw the C. peltata in full flower and again recently at the end of flowering - as you say, lots of bees, even on the capsules! I collected about 15 different native species, but only managed to get photos of a few. Mainly honey bees there now, and ants. Certainly an insect magnet.

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