Svastra

Eucerini

Genus Svastra Holmberg, five taxa

This genus has four species present in Florida. One species has a complex of two subspecies that likely hybridize in the northeast of Florida. These are large bees that resemble Melissodes in aspect. They can be distinguished easily from that genus on the hairs and tergal features listed in the key to genera.

Key to females (From Mitchell 1962)

Scopal hairs all or almost all black or dark brown, with few branches and with rachises of hairs extending considerably beyond plumose part so as to form what appears to be a layer of simple guard hairs…S. atripes

Scopal hairs all or almost all pale, plumose…2

Mesepisterna with dark brown to black pubescence on anterior faces, surfaces not greatly obscured; thorax with dark brown to black hairs on sides at least on lower fifth…S. obliqua

Mesepisterna with pale pubescence on anterior faces, surfaces often completely obscured on at least lower halves; thorax without dark hairs laterally…3

Tergum 2, and usually terga 3 and 4, with pale pubescence in arched bands or lateral fasciae and well separated from apical margin by an area of sparse appressed dark hair or by an apubescent area..S. aegis

Tergum 2, and usually terga 3 and 4 as well, with pale pubescence short, evenly diffused and reaching apical margin…S. petulca

Key to males (From Mitchell 1962)

Apical areas of terga with distinct piliferous punctures equal in diameter to several times the width of the simple hairs arising from them (except extremely narrow impunctate margin), ground shiny with little or only delicate shagreening…S. atripes

Apical areas of terga without distinct punctures, if punctures present, these small and obscured by dense, diffuse, pale pubescence, ground usually dulled by dense shagreening…2

Terga 2 and 3 with pale pubescence diffuse, extending to apical margins (unless worn); anterior faces of mesepisterna with mats of closely appressed, dense, pale pubescence which hide surfaces completely on lower half…S. petulca petulca

Terga 2 and 3 with pale pubescence in distinct arched bands well separated from margins, in lateral fasciae which are well separated from margins, or absent…3

Mesepisterna with mats of dense pale pubescence completely hiding anterior surfaces at least on lower half…S. aegis

Mesepisterna without mats of pale pubescence anteriorly, with short sparse pubescence which does not hide surface completely…S. obliqua

Key to subspecies of Svastra atripes.

These subspecies likely hybridize in North Florida and Southwest Georgia.

Key to females (From Mitchell 1962)

Hind tibiae with pale ochraceous hairs along outer surface medially. .S. atripes georgica

Hind tibiae with entirely dark hairs..S. atripes atrimitra

Key to males (From Mitchell 1962)

Terga 3 and 4 with entire, white pubescent fasciae, that on tergum 2 narrow and widely interrupted medially. …….S. atripes georgica

Tergum 4 entirely black, 2 and 3 reduced or absent..S. atripes atrimitra

Apidae: Svastra atripes atrimitra LaBerge

County Records: Alachua, Hernando, Leon, Madison

Locations: Brooksville, Boston, GA (Brooks Co., NW of Madison County), Bartow, Branford, Crestview, Fort Meade, LaBelle, Lacooche, Marianna, Suwanee Springs, Tallahassee, Wildwood

Dates: July 27-Oct. 2; July: 1, Aug: 1, Oct: 1

Plants:

Notes: This subspecies occurs in the panhandle and down the western part of the Florida peninsula. It interbreeds with S. atripes georgica in the peninsula.

Female:

Male:

Apidae: Svastra atripes georgica Cresson

County Records: Alachua, Columbia, Duval, Highlands, Leon, Madison, Marion, Orange, Putnam

Locations:Belleville, Cocoa, Gainesville, Jacksonville Beach, Lake City, Ocala N.F., Orlando, Ortega

Dates: July 4-Aug. 29; July: 2,. Aug.: 3

Plants:

Notes: This subspecies primarily occurs in the eastern half of the Florida peninsula. It interbreeds with the S. atripes atrimitra in the central and western peninsula.

Female:

Male:

Apidae: Svastra aegis LaBerge

County Records: Escambia, Leon, Monroe(?)

Locations: Blountstown, Key Largo?, Pensacola, Yankeetown

Dates: June 7, Aug. 18 (July-Oct from LaBerge)

Plants:

Notes: The Monroe record may be a misidentification of Svastra petulca petulca or S. obliqua obliqua. The map in LaBerge shows this species as only occurring in North Florida.