Tribe Osmiini

Genus Heriades Spinola, 3 taxa

These are the smallest of the Osmiini in Florida, ranging from 4-7mm. They have coarse punctation and a strong T1 carina. The abdomen is strongly downcurved. Three species are known from Florida. All are in the subgenus Neotrypetes Robertson.

Key to females (from Mitchell 1962)

  1. Carina of mandibles united basally, a slight angle at this point of union..H. carinata

    2. Carina of mandibles separate to the base..2

  2. Punctures of tergum 2 noticeably finer than those of 3; wings relatively clear, darkened only in region of marginal cell..H. variolosa

    3. Punctures of tergum 2 and 3 not noticeably different; apical half of wings becoming rather deeply infuscated..H. leavitti

Key to males (From Mitchell 1962)

  1. Abdominal sternum 1 truncate apically, with a robust, conical, median protuberance..H. carinata

    2. Sternum 1 produced apically, either rounded or angulate, only very slightly protuberant..2

  2. Sternum 1 angulate apically, and with a low protuberance at about a third of the median length from apex..H. variolosa

    3. Sternum 1 more rounded apically, protuberance nearer mid point of plate..H. leavitti


Megachilidae: Heriades carinata Cresson

County Records: Alachua, Baker, Columbia, Jefferson, Liberty, Leon, Levy, Putnam

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Locations: Goethe State Forest, Olustee, Ordway-Swisher Biological Station

Dates: April, August

Plants: Polylectic, Cirsium horridulum

Notes:

Female

Male


Megachilidae: Heriades leavitti Crawford

County Records: Alachua, Baker, Clay, Columbia, Highlands, Indian River, Jefferson, Lake, Leon, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Miami-Dade, Orange, Sarasota, Suwanee

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Locations: Archbold Biological Station, Oscar Scherer State Recreation Area, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Dates: March, October, November

Plants: Polylectic, Erigeron, Pityopsis graminifolia

Notes: This species includes the subspecies described earlier by Michener as H. leavitti leavitti and H. leavitti crawfordi. Photos, by HGH, of males, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, are of specimens from Louisiana.

Female:

Male:


Megachilidae: Heriades variolosa variolosa Cresson

County Records: Leon (also known from adjacent Thomas County, GA)

hervar.jpg (72886 bytes)

Locations: Tall Timbers Research Station

Dates: March, October

Plants: Polylectic

Notes: Michener (1939) and Mitchell (1962) list this species for Florida. It is apparently the rarest of the three species.

Female:

Male: