Anthophora retusa

Anthophora retusa
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Apidae
Genus:	Anthophora
Species:	A. retusa
Binomial name
Anthophora retusa (Linnaeus, 1758)[1]
Synonyms
Anthophora monacha[2] Anthophora haworthana[3] Anthophora pennipes[3] Apis retusa[4]

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

Distribution

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

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

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

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

1. "Anthophora retusa (Linnaeus, 1758)". NBN Atlas Scotland. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
2. "Anthophora retusa (Linnaeus,1758)". BWARS. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
3. "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. 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. 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.