Dieunomia triangulifera is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae.[1][2][3] It is found in the central United States from central Illinois and Minnesota westward to Utah and southern New Mexico.[4] Adult Dieunomia triangulifera closely resemble Dieunomia nevadensis, specifically Dieunomia nevadensis arizonensis.[4]
| Dieunomia triangulifera | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Halictidae |
| Genus: | Dieunomia |
| Species: | D. triangulifera
|
| Binomial name | |
| Dieunomia triangulifera (Vachal, 1897)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Life cycle
editPrepupa
editIn the early stages of its life cycle, Dieunomia triangulifera spends the winter underground as a prepupa in a state of diapause, allowing it to survive harsh conditions.[4] This prepupa can be distinguished from that of Nomia melanderi by sharper dorsal prominences on the thorax,[4] and is butter-yellow with bands of orange between segments.[4]
Pupa
editThe insect then begins the process of becoming a pupa.[4] For around two to four days after the termination of diapause it makes occasional tiny flexing movements.[4] It then sheds the prepupal skin, a process that takes from one to six minutes in healthy prepupae.[4] This results in a soft, white, and motionless pupa.[4] This then hardens and pigments over a period of time.[4] It then sheds its skin again, over about 5-10 minutes, to emerge as an adult.[4]
Adult
editThe newly emerged adult has soft, white wings and must remain, motionless, in the cell for about 2 days in order for them to harden.[4] Once this is complete the bee tunnels to the surface: males usually leave within an hour, but females wait at least 24 hours before emerging, spending most of this time just below the surface.[4] The males fly low flights just above the surface, seizing the females as they emerge from the ground and attempting to forcibly mate with them: this usually results in the escape of the female, and copulation takes place rarely or never.[4] Actual courtship occurs later.
Nesting
editDieunomia triangulifera often establishes thousands of nests at a site, preferring to nest in knolls or gentle slopes if possible.[4] They can nest in a wide variety of soil types and moistures, including sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam, and clay loam.[4] Each female of the species constructs her own nest.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Dieunomia triangulifera Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ "Dieunomia triangulifera". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ "Dieunomia triangulifera species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Cross, Earl A.; Bohart, George E. (1960). "The Biology of Nomia (Epinomia) triangulifera with Comparative Notes on Other Species of Nomia". University of Kansas Science Bulletin. 41 (6): 761–792 – via Utah State University Digital Commons.
Further reading
edit- Ascher, J.S.; Pickering, J. (2019). "Discover Life bee species guide and world checklist (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)". Retrieved 2019-07-02.