Megachile (Hackeriapis) canifronsProtrusion on Clypeus

Images and contributor Author Gary Taylor ◦

Megachile canifrons, one of the first bees to take up residence in my BeeTown a few years ago, but only recently ID’ed by friend Roch Desmier de Chenon. From a fairly ordinary pic Roch pointed out the “protrusion on clypeus” (the bit below the antennae, between the eyes and down to the mouth) that identified it, I was astounded, even Marc said he couldn’t see “said protrusion“… Megan was aware of the species and suggested the protrusion may be an adaptation to help with nesting…

So, challenge accepted, here’s some better pics showing said protrusion 🙂

First pic, you can see the almost plate like protrusions between the eyes, what’s your first thought? A shield perhaps…? Well it clearly is, you can see that in both the second and last pic as she’s packing her cap, but my first thought was “geez that’d give you some serious up front meniscal forces when carrying a big ball of soggy resin…” 😀

Megachile canifrons © Gary Taylor
The “protrusion on clypeus“ on the Megachile canifrons, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

I just had to prove my theory… It’s no good just saying I’ve seen it, which I have — a bee flying in with a seemingly gravity defying ball of resin — I had to capture it on camera… Hours upon hours, day after day, over a couple months I saw it a bunch of times and missed ’em all 😆

Megachile canifrons © Gary Taylor
The “protrusion on clypeus“ on the Megachile canifrons © Gary Taylor

Closest I got was third pic, but you can still see the curve of the resin which wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t being held by the meniscus of the protruding plate… 🙂

Megachile canifrons © Gary Taylor
The “protrusion on clypeus“ on the Megachile canifrons © Gary Taylor
Megachile canifrons © Gary Taylor
The “protrusion on clypeus“ on the Megachile canifrons © Gary Taylor
Megachile canifrons © Gary Taylor
The “protrusion on clypeus“ on the Megachile canifrons © Gary Taylor

Photographer and Author Gary Taylor

  • Scientific Classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Apoidea
  • Informal: Apiformes
  • Family: Megachilidae
  • Subfamily: Megachilinae
  • Tribe: Megachilini
  • Genus: Megachile
  • Subgenus: infrageneric Hackeriapis
  • Species: Megachile canifrons

Footnote & References

  1. Megachile canifrons, Content contribution and Images © Gary Taylor
  2. Bee Aware of Your Native Bees (Australia), Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/beeawareofyournativebees

Megachile (Hackeriapis) canifronsProtrusion on Clypeus

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