Fossil brood cells of solitary bees on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, Canary Islands (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) (original) (raw)

Ellis, W.N.; Ellis-Adam, A.C.

Entomologische Berichten (Amsterdam) 531(2): 161-173

1993

ISSN/ISBN: 0013-8827 Accession: 002623287

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Abstract

Large numbers of fossils, presumed to be brood cells of anthophorid bees, were found in areas of calcareous sand dunes on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. They are taxonomically associated with Eucera, rather than Anthophora, because of the presumed nest architecture, as far as this could be deduced from the structure of the cells. A comparison is made with published records of similar fossils, mostly placed in the genus Celliforma. Numerous perforations in the walls of the cells and unopened cells are indicative of a preimaginal mortality, due to predation and fungal attacks.