Anthophora retusa, the potter flower bee, is a species of solitary digger bee.[5]

Anthophora retusa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Anthophora
Species:
A. retusa
Binomial name
Anthophora retusa
Synonyms

Anthophora monacha[2]
Anthophora haworthana[3]
Anthophora pennipes[3]
Apis retusa[4]

Distribution

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A. retusa is generally found in Western Europe and southern Sweden.[6] In the United Kingdom, A. retusa is thought to be limited to five sites, including Seaford Head Nature Reserve.[7]

Identification

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A. retusa can be differentiated from Anthophora plumipes by the hind-tibial spurs; in A. plumipes they are black while in A. retusa they are yellow or yellow-brown.[2]

Habitat

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A. retusa prefers sandy soils and is generally found on coastal dunes and cliffs as well as inland on commons and heathlands.[2][5]

Population

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A. retusa has suffered population decline since the Second World War but undergone rapid decline since the 1990s,[7] similar to that seen in some bumblebee species.[5][8] It is an endangered species in Britain.[9][10]

References

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  1. ^ "Anthophora retusa (Linnaeus, 1758)". NBN Atlas Scotland. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Anthophora retusa (Linnaeus,1758)". BWARS. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Anthophora (Pyganthophora) retusa (Linnaeus, 1758) - Potter Flower Bee". Natural History Museum. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Anthophora retusa (Linnaeus, 1758)". INPN. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Cathy Horsley; Andrew Whitehouse; Steven Falk (November 2013). "South West Bees Project" (PDF). Buglife. pp. 19–20. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Anthophora retusa (Linnaeus, 1758)". GBIF. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b Georgia Hennessy; Dave Goulson; Francis Ratnieks (2020). "Population assessment and foraging ecology of the rare solitary bee Anthophora retusa at Seaford Head Nature reserve". Figshare. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  8. ^ Mike Edwards; Martin Jenner (2008). "Anthophora retusa The Potter Flower Bee" (PDF). Hymettus. p. 2. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  9. ^ Rebecca L. Evans; Simon G. Potts (2013). "Iconic Bees: 12 reports on UK bee species" (PDF). Friends of the Earth. University of Reading. pp. 30–33. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  10. ^ "4. Management Objectives, Targets and Actions" (PDF). Seaford Town Council. p. 3. Retrieved 22 September 2020.