Notes on the biology of Anthophora speciosa Fr. (Hym., Anthophoridae)
1973
Mohamed, M. I.
Anthophora speciosa is a winter species that occurs in Egypt in localities with clay loam or sandy loam soils but not south latitude 30°. It is well adapted for pollinating broad bean (Vicia faba) flowers. It has one generation a year. Adults begin to appear at the last week of November. Copulation occurs in the nesting site. The nests construct in bare, flate uncultivated, and sandy loam soil, normally is shaded throughout the year. Each female constructs its nest. The completed nest usually sealed up by earth and contains 6 to 8 cells. The inner surfaces of the cell and the first closure are coated completely by wax‐like material. Each cell usually has two closures. The provisioned cell contains a mixture of pollen and nectar, dirty grey in colour. The number of pollen loads in the cell ranged from 10 to 12. The time spent by a female for collecting a pollen load was 9 to 21 minutes. Aestivation took place in the mature larvae.
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