Exoneura rufitarsis

Exoneura rufitarsis, or Exoneura rufitarsis, is a species of reed bee in the tribe Allodapini. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1948 by Australian entomologist Tarlton Rayment.

Description

The body length of the female holotype is 6.5 mm. The head, thorax and abdomen are black.

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in Victoria The type locality is Cranbourne. Other published localities include Clyde, Cobboboonee National Park and Dandenong.

Behaviour

The adults are flying mellivores with sedentary larvae. They nest in dead, dry plant stems, including those of Xanthorrhoea grasstrees and Viminaria. Two or more adult females may occupy one nest, though not all females lay eggs. All immature stages are found in the communal chamber, with the larvae fed progressively. Flowering plants visited by the bees include Trachymene species.