The genus Systropha comprises several species of Old World Halictidae, primarily specialist pollinators of plants in the genus Convolvulus. Males of the genus have unusual curled antennae, and females have pollen-carrying hairs covering almost the entire abdomen.[Michener, C.D. (2000). The Bees of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press]
Distribution
Systropha species occur from
Spain and
Morocco east to
Tajikistan, and north as far as southern
Germany. They occur in both eastern and western parts of
Africa, south to
Namibia. Asian species range as far south as
Sri Lanka and
Thailand.
Life history
So far as is known, all species are
Oligolecty on flowers of
Convolvulus, with unusual modifications of the scopa, such that almost the entire abdomen (including the dorsal surface) is used for carrying pollen, rather than the legs, as in most bees.
Pollen is carried to nests in the ground, formed into pollen masses, on each of which a single egg is laid before the cell containing the pollen is sealed, and another cell is then constructed and provisioned.
Species
Species according to Catalogue of Life:
External links
