Hylaeus basilautus

Hylaeus basilautus
Male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Colletidae
Genus: Hylaeus
Species:
H. basilautus
Binomial name
Hylaeus basilautus
(Rayment, 1953)
Synonyms
  • Meroglossa basilauta Rayment, 1953

Hylaeus basilautus, or Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) basilautus, is a species of bee in the family Colletidae and subfamily Hylaeinae. It is endemic to Australia. It was described by Australian entomologist Tarlton Rayment in 1953.

Description

Male body length is about 8 mm. Integumental colouration is mainly black, with yellow markings.

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in south-eastern Australia. The type locality is Jamberoo, on the New South Wales south coast. It has also been recorded from Gorae West in south-west Victoria.

Flowers of Leptospermum scoparium (manuka), a forage plant of the bees
Eucalyptus kitsoniana (Gippsland mallee), a forage plant of the bees

Behaviour

The adults are solitary flying mellivores. They nest in galleries in sound wood and have sedentary larvae. Flowering plants visited by the bees include Leptospermum scoparium and Eucalyptus kitsoniana, as well as mistletoe species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Rayment, T (1953). Bees of the Portland District. Portland, Victoria: Portland Field Naturalist's Club. pp. 1–39 [11].
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Species Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) basilautus (Rayment, 1953)". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2026. Retrieved 2026-10-17.