Subgenus Helicosmia Thomson, 2 (possibly 3) taxa
Formerly placed in the subgenus Chalcosmia Schmiedeknecht
Key to females
1. Clypeal margin somewhat excavated on each side of a median, elevated process..2
Clypeal margin greatly thickened, but neither excavated nor
emarginate; mandible with a robust superior tooth projecting above clypeal
margin..Osmia georgica
2. Larger (13-14mm); front wings deeply infuscated, median clypeal process more
robust, not noticeably emarginate..Osmia chalybea
Smaller (11-12mm); front wings only lightly infuscated;
median process of clypeus relatively low and inconspicuous, its margin quite
deeply emarginate..Osmia texana
Key to males
1. Lateral ocelli slightly nearer margin of vertex than to each other..Osmia
georgica
Lateral ocelli much nearer each other than to margin of vertex..2
2. Wings deeply infuscated; dorsal area of propodeum densely tessellate and
dull; tergum 6 deeply emarginate..Osmia chalybea
Wings faintly infuscated; lower half of dorsal area of
propodeum smooth and shining; tergum 6 usually with only a small, shallow median
emargination..Osmia texana
County Records: Alachua, Brevard, Collier, Columbia, Hillsborough, Levy, Miami-Dade, Putnam, Seminole
Locations: Austin Cary Memorial Forest, Corkscrew Swamp, Everglades National Park,
Goethe State Forest, Hillsborough River State Park,
Kanapaha Prairie, Lake City, Merritt Island, Ordway-Swisher Biological Station,
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Wagner
Dates: March - July
Plants: Ceonothus sp., Cirsium horridulum
Notes: The map in Rust (1974) shows O. chalybea occurring throughout the
peninsula. No records were noted from the panhandle though.
Female
Male
County Records: Alachua, Baker, Columbia, Jackson, Liberty, Putnam
Locations: Gainesville, Ordway-Swisher Biological Station
Dates: April
Plants: Coreopsis basalis, Senecio glabellus
Notes: The map in Rust (1974) shows O. georgica as occurring near Jacksonville
(Duval) and Tallahassee (Leon), FL. Photos 7 and 17 of males, by HGH, are of specimens from Louisiana.
Female
Male
County Records: Hernando
Locations:
Dates: March 20
Plants:
Notes: According to the map in Rust (1974), O. texana does not occur in
Florida. This could be a misidentification of O. georgica? Mitchell
states, however, that there are positive identifications in Florida.
