Hylaeus modestus
Hylaeus modestus, also known as the modest masked bee, is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.[1][2]
| Hylaeus modestus | |
|---|---|
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| A male Hylaeus modestus, a masked bee found in the new gardens of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Colletidae |
| Genus: | Hylaeus |
| Species: | H. modestus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hylaeus modestus Say, 1837 | |
Subspecies
These two subspecies belong to the species Hylaeus modestus:
- Hylaeus modestus citrinifrons (Cockerell, 1896)
- Hylaeus modestus modestus Say, 1837
Unique larva growth
Hylaeus modestus was discovered to have a special secretion that they produce from their Dufour's gland that they use to aid the growth of their larvae as the secretion has a unique chemical compound containing high concentrations of ethyl ester, which is only found in the secretions of Hylaeus modestus, to provide extra nutrition to the larvae as the larvae feed on the secretions placed on the cell walls of their brood chambers so they can have the energy needed to pupate and become adults before the other bee species out-compete them for resources.
References
- "Hylaeus modestus Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
- "Hylaeus modestus". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
Further reading
- Ascher, J.S.; Pickering, J. (2019). "Discover Life bee species guide and world checklist (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)". Retrieved 2019-07-02.
- Duffield, R. M.; Fernandes, A.; McKay, S.; Wheeler, J. W.; Snelling, R. R. (1 January 1980). "Chemistry of the exocrine secretions of Hylaeus modestus (Hymenoptera: colletidae)". Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Comparative Biochemistry. 67 (1): 159–162. doi:10.1016/0305-0491(80)90287-4.