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Ceratina tejonensis Cresson, 1864
Ceratina gigantea HS Smith, 1907; Ceratina gigantea

Life   Insecta   Hymenoptera   Apoidea   Apidae   Ceratina
Subgenus: Zadontomerus

Ceratina tejonensis, female, dorsal.OSAC
David Cappaert · 6
Ceratina tejonensis, female, dorsal.OSAC

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Ceratina tejonensis, female, head.OSAC
David Cappaert · 6
Ceratina tejonensis, female, head.OSAC
Ceratina tejonensis, female, laterall.OSAC
© Copyright source/photographer · 6
Ceratina tejonensis, female, laterall.OSAC

Ceratina tejonensis, male, dorsal.
© Copyright source/photographer · 6
Ceratina tejonensis, male, dorsal.
Ceratina tejonensis, male, head.
David Cappaert · 6
Ceratina tejonensis, male, head.

Ceratina tejonensis, male, lateral.
David Cappaert · 6
Ceratina tejonensis, male, lateral.
Ceratina tejonensis, distributionmap
© Daly, 1973 · 1
Ceratina tejonensis, distributionmap

Ceratina tejonensis, dorsalandventralegenitalia
© Daly, 1973 · 1
Ceratina tejonensis, dorsalandventralegenitalia
Ceratina tejonensis, female, mesopleura
© Daly, 1973 · 1
Ceratina tejonensis, female, mesopleura

Ceratina tejonensis, female, sixthmetasomalsegments
© Daly, 1973 · 1
Ceratina tejonensis, female, sixthmetasomalsegments
Ceratina tejonensis, male, metasomalsternaandapicalplates
© Daly, 1973 · 1
Ceratina tejonensis, male, metasomalsternaandapicalplates
Overview
Reprinted with permission from: Daly, H. V. 1973. Bees of the genus Ceratina in America North of Mexico (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). University of California Publications in Entomology 74: 1-114. The Regents of the University of California. Published by the University of California Press.

Ceratina tejonensis Cresson, 1864

Female.�Measurements and ratios: tug, 6.2 mm; hamuli, 5�6; eye, 130:150:155:175; clypeus, 65 x 155:42:110; interocellar, 25:55:60:85, Q 20.0; frontal carina, 70; malar area, 0x70; interalveolar,40:35:55:60, c2o; antenna,70:20:20:10:11:15,Q17; subpleural signum, 17 x 2.5. (California, Santa Barbara County, Santa Ynez Mts; Univ. California, Davis)

Structure: Head quadrate in cephalic view; eyes slightly divergent, narrowly rounded above, subtruncate at malar area; frontal carina simple, sulciform beneath median ocellus; alveolocellar area distinctly convex; vertex and supraorbital area limited posteriorly by pronounced preoccipital carina; median portion of hypostomal carina when viewed laterally higher anteriorly where it terminates in a right-angled tooth, when viewed ventrally angle between median and lateral portions about 110�. Basitibial plate acute, its elevated apex at basal 0.25 of tibial length. Metasoma widest at segment 4; gradulus of tergum 4 terminating laterally beyond and below spiracle at a distance of 2.0 spiracle lengths; tergum 6 with median central area flattened (resembles fig. 117�); gradulus of sternum 2 arcuate, gradulus of sternum 3 slightly arcuate.

Sculpture and vestiture: Head shiny between punctures, largely impunctate on mandible base, clypeal disc, lower supraclypeal area, lowest paraocular area, subantennal area, convex portion of alveolocellar area and in narrow band behind eye; elsewhere with very fine punctures often more than a puncture width apart and with largely simple setae; punctures closer in interalveolar, and paraocular areas; sparse setae longer in interalveolar area, vertex, labral disc and postero-apically on mandible. Sides of pronotum finely punctured less than a puncture width apart, impunctate area before pronotal pit; scutal disc shiny, virtually impunctate except sparsely along lines, fine punctures marginally and as close as a puncture width apart laterally and on axilla; scutellar disc sparsely punctate, fine punctures becoming closer and less than a puncture width apart laterally and posteriorly; metanotum finely punctured throughout, about a puncture width apart; mesopleuron with coarse punctures about a puncture width apart or less laterally, becoming more widely spaced posteroventrally, setae narrowly plumose, becoming longer posteroventrally (resembles fig. 87�); hypoepimeral area impunctate in lower fourth; metapleuron finely punctured, about a puncture width apart; small impunctate area before metapleural pit; propodeal triangle of about 20 longitudinal carinulae, with some anastomosis and becoming indistinct and reticulate laterad; angle of propodeum impunctate, minutely coriaceous; aides finely punctured, becoming closer and smaller laterad, with long erect, narrowly plumose setae. Metasomal tergum 1 finely punctured on dorsal surface more than a puncture width apart, virtually impunctate on anterior surface; terga 2�5 with scattered fine punctures on pregradular area near gradulus, postgradular punctures fine, several puncture widths apart on discs of more anterior terga, becoming denser to about a puncture width apart laterally and apically, each with a short appressed simple seta; ground shiny, but subapically minutely roughened on terga 2�4; tergum 5 finely papillate, with larger subapical papillae; tergum 6 finely punctured about a puncture width apart, ground with low papillae basally becoming rugulose laterally and apically; setae short, simple, except central area which is punctured but free of papillae and setae. Sterna finely punctured, more than a puncture width apart; setae simple, coarse, suberect, dense at apex of abdomen; setae of wax glands appressed.

Color: Body metallic very dark greenish blue (ISCC-NBS 175) with minor greenish or yellowish reflections; metallic colors lacking on labrum, mandibles, mesoscutal disc, and war glands. Ivory marks: amygdaliform on clypeus, extending almost fall length; spots at bases of all tibiae, being largest on metatibia. Pronotal lobes dark. Antennae fuscous, lighter beneath; legs proximally fuscous, femora and tibiate faintly metallic, tarsi apically testaceous; wing membrane testaceous, venation and tegula darker. Body setae pale flavescent.

Male.�Measurements Mid ratios: wing, 5.1 mm; hamuli, 5; eye, 120:120:105:105; clypeus, 135 � 95:35:85; interocellar, 25:40:30:55, � 20.0; frontal carina, 65; malar area, 5 � 45; interalveolar, 30:20:40:45, � 20; antenna, 40:12:15:10:15:15, � 20; subpleural signum, 15.0 � 3.8, (Compared with holotype; Altadena, Los Angeles County, California)

Structure: Head rounded in cephalic view; eyes convergent below, narrowly rounded above, broadly rounded at malar area; frontal carina simple, distinct between alveolae, sulciform beneath median ocellus; vertex and supraorbital area limited posteriorly by preoccipital ridge with am elevated carina; median portion of hypostomal carina when viewed laterally of low uniform height, terminating anteriorly without a tooth, when viewed ventrally lateral portion arcuate. Ventral profile of metatrochanter rounded, apical anteroventral facet partly developed, fine dense setae; width of metafemur at tooth 0.45 length, tooth rounded, obtuse 125� angle, basal anteroventral facet moderately broad, distinct, with fine, dense setae on slightly concave surface, ventral edge with short, fine, dense setae (resembles fig. 9k) - Metasoma widest at segment 4; gradulus of tergum 4 terminating laterally beyond and below spiracle at a distance of 1.0 spiracle Lengths; tergum 6 with distinct median subapical protuberance surmounted by setae (resembles fig. hi); dorsal view of apical plate width 2.0 times length, subtriangular, apex rounded; sternum 6 with two short, -well-separated, median teeth (resembles fig. 12g) - Genitalia presumed to be similar to figure 29d.

Sculpture and vestiture: Head shiny between punctures, largely impunctate on clypeal disc, lowest parocular area, subantennal area, most of convex portion of alveolocellar area and in narrow band behind eye; sparsely punctured on mandible base with fine punctures; gena with medium punctures about a puncture width apart or less; elsewhere with fine to medium punctures less than a puncture width apart and with largely simple setae; punctures closer in interalveolar area, sparser in ocellorbital area; sparse setae longer in interalveolar and postgenal areas, vertex, labral disc and posteriorly on mandible. Sides of pronotum finely and contiguously punctured, impunctate area above pronotal pit extending to beneath dorsolateral angle; scutal disc shiny, virtually impunctate except moderately along lines, fine punctures marginally and contiguous laterally and on axilla; scutellar disc sparsely punctate, fine punctures becoming less than a puncture width apart laterally and posteriorly; metanotum finely punctured less than a puncture width apart throughout; mesopleuron with coarse punctures less than a puncture width apart laterally, becoming more widely spaced posteroventrally, long narrowly plumose setae; hypoepimeral area impunctate in lower third; metapleuron finely punctured, about a puncture width apart; small impunctate area before metapleural pit; propodeal triangle with about 20 longitudinal carinulae distinct even laterally, not reticulate; angle of propodeum impunctate, minutely coriaceous; sides finely punctured, becoming less than a puncture width apart arid smaller laterad, with erect, plumose setae. Metasomal tergum 1 finely punctured on dorsal surface more than a puncture width apart, virtually impunctate on anterior surface; terga 2�6 with scattered fine punctures on pregradular area near gradulus, postgradular punctures fine and uniformly one to two puncture widths apart, each with a short appressed simple seta; ground shiny, but minutely roughened on terga 5�6; tergum 7 finely and sparsely punctured with shiny ground, apical plate above with long, sparsely plumose hairs extending beyond plate. Sterna 1�5 finely punctured, uniformly about two puncture widths apart; setae fine, suberect, narrowly plumose, longer subapically on each sternum.

Color: Head and thorax metallic dark blue (ISCC-NBS 183); abdomen similar but cuticle beneath faint metallic reflections fusco-rufous; metallic colors lacking on mandibles which are dark fusco-rufous. Ivory marks: broad hat-shaped, slightly irregular outline on clypeus, extending almost full length and width; subrectangular spot on labral disc; spots at bases of all tibiae, being largest on metatibia. Pronotal lobes dark. Antennae black to dark fuscous, lighter beneath; legs proximally fuscous, femora and tibiae faintly metallic, tarsi lighter fuscous apically; wing membrane hyaline, venation and tegula dark fuscous. Body setae pale flavescent.

Male compared with illustrations of other specimens: metafemur and metatrochanter (fig. 9k), sternum 6 and apical plate (fig. 12g); genitalia not dissected, but illustrated from another specimen (fig. 29d).

C. tejonensis averages the largest in size of the North American species. This size, dark pronotal lobes, and coarse mesopleural punctation separates the females from all other species except C. micheneri. The latter usually lacks the clypeal maculation (present in C. tejonensis), is more bluish in color, mesopleural punctures more irregularly spaced, and the sixth tergum of C. micheneri has a generally dull appearance in contrast to the flat, glistening disc of C. tejonensis. Small females may be confused with C. acantha which has fine mesopleural punctation. The males are similar to the females in the color of the pronotal lobes and punctation and the metafemur is distinguished by a nearly fiat, basal, anteroventral facet covered with fine setae.

C. tejonensis is restricted to the California Biotic Province (Dice, 1943) and in the Mixed conifer, California Oakwoods, Chaparral, California Steppe, and the ecotones among these vegetation types (figs. 6b, 20b). It is syntopic with C. micheneri in several northern and southern localities, but interestingly allotopic in the Chaparral type. Although variable in size (female wing lengths, 6.10 � .041 mm, range 4.4�7.15 mm, n = 111; male wing lengths, 5.10 � .039 mm, range 3.85�6.05 mm, n = 90), no distinct phenetic-geographic segregates are obvious in the collections.

The eggs are placed on the upper surface of the rectangular pollen loaf, somewhat to the rear (fig. 31e). Nests have been found infrequently and in tall stems of Brassica sp. which had been dead for at least one year. The nests are deep (fig. 31k, 39.5 cm) and several have a curious extreme variability in cell size and size of the pollen loaf. No correlation with sex was found by rearing the bees from the different loaves, but the sizes of the bees were associated with the food supplied. More samples are required for a thorough analysis. This feature of the nests suggests a behavioral mechanism for increasing size variability which might be advantageous in exploiting different sized stems.


Identification
Extracted from: Charles, R. (1895). Notes on bees, with Descriptions of New Species. Transactions of the American Entomological Society Vol. 22, No. 2. pp. 115-128.

This was described from a California specimen, but in Cresson's Catalogue it is credited to Nevada, and it was found by Provancher in Canada. It is common in Illinois. I have thirty-five specimens ; it is quite as common as males of C. dupla, and I have taken it from March 21 to September 23. I find no difference from males of C. dupla, except in structure of hind femora, and this does not present any intermediate forms. The trouble is that I do not find any female for it, and I suspect that it is a dimorphic male of C. dupla, or that its female cannot be distinguished from that species. I think it will be found wherever C. dupla occurs.


Names
Scientific source:

Supported by

Hosts · map
FamilyScientific name @ source (records)
Asteraceae  Erigeron sp @ BBSL (1)

Silybum marianum @ BBSL (1)
Ericaceae  Arctostaphylos sp @ BBSL (1)
Lamiaceae  Salvia greggii @ BBSL (1)
Liliaceae  Hemerocallis hybrid @ BBSL (1)
Onagraceae  Clarkia @ AMNH_BEE (1)
Polygonaceae  Eriogonum sp @ BBSL (1)
Scrophulariaceae  Penstemon sp @ BBSL__KWC (2)
_  Withheld @ BBSL__YOSE (9); BBSL (26); BBSL__PINN (2)

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