J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2008 36 (1): 69-89 

RESEARCH ARTICLE 

Keys for the identification of common bees of Sri Lanka 
W. A. Inoka P. Karunaratne and Jayanthi P. Edirisinghe* 
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 

Revised: 01 March 2007 ; Accepted: 15 February 2008 

Abstract: Illustrated keys are provided for the identification 
of 41 species of bees in 25 genera and three families that are 
commonly encountered on flowers of common flowering plants 
of Sri Lanka. The generic and species keys to bees are annotated 
with known natural history information on distribution, floral 
hosts, special behaviour at flowers, nest type and nesting sites. 
Details of external morphology of bees used in the keys have 
been included. A brief taxonomic history of bees relevant to 
Sri Lanka is also included. 

Keywords: Common bees, floral hosts, identification-keys\, 
taxonomic features, Sri Lanka 

INTRODUCTION 

There has been a long felt need for a key for the 
identification of bees of Sri Lanka that are commonly 
encountered on flowers of a variety of plants including 
cultivated plants of horticultural and agricultural 
importance, weeds and the natural vegetation. Previous 
studies on bees have tended to deal with the four well-
known species of hive -nesting honeybees of the family 
Apidae. The domesticated Asian honeybee, Apis cerana, 
the feral giant honeybee, Apis dorsata, the feral dwarf 
honeybee Apis florea and the stingless bee, Trigona 
iridipennis are common in rural and urban landscapes. 
Detailed information on non-honeybees or the solitary 
pollen bees of Sri Lanka that outnumber the honeybees 
was lacking until a recent field study 1 on bees by the 
authors that covered most areas of the country. 

This study has documented 138 species of bees in 
35 genera collected from areas other than the North and 
North-East of Sri Lanka 1. The keys developed in this 
study aid in the identification of the commonly occurring 
bees of Sri Lanka. 

A brief taxonomic history 

The earliest published work on bees of Sri Lanka dates 
back to the British Colonial Period when Bingham 2 

recorded, described and provided keys for 42 species 
of bees in 15 genera from Sri Lanka. Thereafter, the 
insect surveys conducted in Sri Lanka (1978-1998) by 
the Smithsonian Institution, Washington resulted in the 
identification of several bee species by Sakagami and 
Ebmer 3 ; Schwarz 4 ; Sakagami 5-6; Sakagami; Ebmer & 
Tadauchi 7 • 8; Snelling 9 and Baker 1 0. These publications 
are noteworthy in that they include descriptions 
and species keys for specific genera. The landmark 
publication on the bees of the world by Michener" has 
included information and keys for several genera (27) of 
bees documented from Sri Lanka. An annotated list of 
bees of Sri Lanka listing 132 bee species in 25 genera 
and 4 families was published by Wijesekara 1 2 through a 
survey of published literature on bees of Sri Lanka. 

Features used in the identification of bees 

Like all other insects bees have three body regions, head, 
thorax and abdomen (Figure 1). A description of the 
external morphological features used in the keys is given 
below. Figures givenin Michener, McGinley andDanforth 1 3 

have been used for illustration of these features. 

Head 

The head bears a pair of antennae, two compound eyes, 
three simple eyes and three pairs of mouth parts formed 
into a proboscis or "tongue" (Figures 2a & 2b). The 
difference in the number of antennal segments is useful 
in sex determination. The apical segments that form the 
flagellum of the antenna are 10 segmented in the female 
and 11 segmented in the male. The relative lengths of 
these segments, especially the basal segments, is of 
considerable value as a key character. 

'Corresponding author 



7 0 W.A.I.P. Karunaralne & J.P. Edirisinghe 

March 2008 Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (I) 



Keys to the common bees of Sri Lanka 71 

A large number of characters used in the higher 
classification of bees are based on features of the 
proboscis. The proboscis is formed of the maxillae and 
the labium. Each maxilla consists of the cardo, stipes, 
maxillary palp and galea. The labium consists of the 
prementum, glossa, paraglossa and the labial palps 
(Figures 2a & 2b). In structurally more specialized bees, 
the glossa becomes acute and more or less elongated, the 
lacinia becomes reduced in size, the number of segments 
in the maxillary palps is reduced and various other 
modifications may be found. The proboscis is extended 
to probe flowers for nectar. Bees are grouped into either 
short-tongued or long-tongued species based on the 
modifications in the galea, labial palps and glossa. The 
labrum (upper lip) and mandibles are relatively simple 
generalized structures, hot markedly different from most 
insects. However, they show a wide range in form and in 
relative size in different taxa. 

The face is often divided into ill-defined areas, 
as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3a. They are the 
two paraocular areas, the supra clypeal area, the frons 
or supra antennal area and the vertex. The malar area is 
between the eye and the mandible. The foveae of the face 
are depressions, usually black in colour. 

The antennae arise from the antennal sockets 
(alveoli). Nearly all bees have a subantennal suture 
extending from each antennal socket down to the 
episternal suture (some have two sub-antennal sutures, 
below each antenna defining a subantennal area). 
The epistomal suture defines the upper limits of the 
clypeus. A longitudinal carina immediately mesal to 
the antennal base occurs in some bees, which is called 
the juxtantennal carina (Figure 3a). In some bees (e.g. 
Ceylalictus), the paraocular area seems to have moved 
downwards becoming lobed down into the clypeus on 
each side. The resultant lobe of the paraocular area into 
the clypeus is called the paraocular lobe. The term orbit 
is usually used for the eye margin, inner orbit for the 
facial margin and outer orbit for the genal margin. The 
genal area is the region behind the eye and in front of 
the preoccipital ridge. The ridge surrounding the concave 
posterior surface of the head above and laterally is called 
the pre-occipital ridge (Figure 3b). The proboscidial fossa 
(Figure 3b) is the large, deep groove on the underside of 
the head into which the proboscis folds. 

Thorax 

The thorax (Figures 4a & 4b) of bees is a compact structure 
consisting of three segments; prothorax, mesothorax and 
the metathorax. The thorax bears legs and wings. The 
first true abdominal segment is termed the propodeum. 
The prothorax is represented primarily by the collar-

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1) 

like pronotum. The pronotum extends ventro-laterally 
forming the pronotal lobe (Figure 4b). In dorsal view, the 
mesothorax can be divided into four distinct sclerites; 
the scutum, scutellum and paired axillae. Laterally, the 
mesothorax is represented by the mesepisternum. This 
is sometimes divided by the nearly vertical episternal 
groove (pre-episternal groove). The episternal groove 
may extend down, often meeting the anterior end of the 
horizontal scrobal groove, on to the lower anterior part 
of the mesepisternum, as in the subfamilies Colletinae 
and Halictinae. Dorsally, the metathorax consists of the 
sclerite, metanotum. The metepisternum forms the lateral 
surface of the metathorax (Figure 4b). 

The form and subdivisions of the propodeum are 
important systematically. The propodeum commonly 
exhibits 4 distinct surfaces; dorsal, posterior and lateral 
surfaces. In many species of groups these surfaces are 
defined by marginal carinae. The dorsal part of the 
propodeum is called the basal zone (basal area) and 
is further characterized by striations, reticulations or 
other sculpturing which are of considerable taxonomic 
importance. Many bees have a pair of impressed lines 
on the propodeum (dotted in Figure 4a), beginning near 
its anterior dorso-lateral parts and extending downward 
and postero-medially and nearly meeting in or above 
the propodial pit, a median depression of the lower 
posterior surface. These lines, together with the anterior 
dorsal margin of the propodeum, enclose the propodeal 
triangle. 

Wings 

The wings of bees exhibit a considerable range of 
variation between genera and the other higher taxa but 
are commonly of little help in the separation of species 
within a genus. Important differences in the forewing 
include the number of submarginal cells (2 or 3), the 
relative size of the stigma, the size and form of the 
marginal cell, the form of the basal vein and 2 n d recurrent 
vein, and the relations of the recurrent veins to the 
submarginal cells. Among the veins in the forewing, 
of special importance are the three veins that look like 
crossveins: the second abscissa of Rs (or first transverse 
cubital), first r-m (or second transverse cubital), and 
second r-m (or third transverse cubital), named according 
to the Cumstock and Needham system. These veins help 
to define the sub marginal cells, which are usually either 
3 or 2 in number. The veins are termed as 1 s t, 2 n d and 3 r d 

submarginal crossveins (Figure 5a). 

Legs 

The three pairs of legs bear five segments; coxa, 
trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus (Figure 6). The legs 

March 2008 



72 W.A.I.P. Karunaralne & J.P. Edirisinghe 

Prcs t imna 

I " m e d i a l ce l l 

R a d i a l 

I " cub i ta l ce l l 

S t i g m a 
M a r g i n a l ce l l 

I s s u b m a r g i n a l 

2 l l d s u b m a r g i n a l 

~-3'i s u b m a r g i n a l 

2™ c u b i t a l ce l l " R s 

F i g u r e 5 a : F o r e w i n g w i t h 3 s u b m a r g i n a l c e l l s F i g u r e 5 b : F o r e w i n g w i t h 2 s u b m a r g i n a l c e l l s 

Femur 
Trochanter 

Tibial spur 

Penicillus 

Apical tarsus 

Basilibial plate Gradulus Spiracle 

Lateral a r m o f gradulus 

Arolium 

Tarsal daw 

Tarsal c l a w ' ^ 

F i g u r e 6 : H i n d l e g o f b e e 

Pygidial plate 

S I S6 S8 

F i g u r e 7 a : M e t a s o m a o f m a l e b e e - l a t e r a l v i e w 

Gradulus 

Premarginal l ine 

M a r g i n a l zone 

Disc 

F i g u r e 7 b : S e g m e n t T } - i n t e r a l v i e w 

in most female bees differ from those of the other 
Hymenoptera chiefly in the broadening of the tibiae and 
basitarsi of the hindleg and to some degree, the basitarsi 
of the middle legs. Along with the expansion of these 
parts there has been a development of pollen collecting 
hairs, which are borne on hind legs in all groups except 
in the family Megachilidae. Because, male bees carry no 
pollen, these leg features are lacking, with all segments 
usually quite slender. In parasitic bees, both sexes are 
wasp-like in appearance, as the females also have lost 
their pollen carrying structures. 

The tibial spurs are the movable inferior apical spurs 
on the tibiae; there is only one spur on the front tibia, one 
on the middle tibia and, in nearly all bees, two on the hind 
tibia. The inner hind tibial spur is especially important 
taxonomically. This spur usually has two toothed 

margins; the inner one that is commonly elaborated 
in various ways and an outer margin. The spurs are 
described as pectinate when its inner margin is produced 
into several long, coarse, often blunt projections, even 
though the number of such projections is in some cases 
reduced to only one or two. These spurs provide a hold 
against their nest burrow walls. Bees pivot on these 
spurs, somersaulting to change the direction of their 
head 1 4 1 5 . The tibial spines (Figure 6) are immovable, 
sharp superior apical projections, usually small in size, 
often blunt or minute, found in some bees. There are 
none, 1 or 2, or rarely 3 spines per tibia. 

The basitibial plate is on the upper or outer side of the 
base of the hind tibia of many bees. It is best developed in 
females and presumably is important for support as bees 
move up or down with legs bent within their burrows in the 

March 2008 Journal of the National Scie nee Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (I) 



Keys to the common bees of Sri Lanka 73 

soil 1 6. On the inner surface of the hind tibia of most bees 
is an area of variable size, covered with hairs of uniform 
length, usually blunt, truncate, or briefly bifid (Figure 6). 
These hairs, the keirotrichia, appear to serve for cleaning 
the wing. In some bees they are replaced by longer, more 
ordinary hairs that may function as part of the scopa in 
females. On the hind basitarsus of many female bees is 
a process that extends beyond the base of the second 
tarsal segment. Sometimes this process bears on its apex 
a small brush, the penicillus. Between the tarsal claws 
there is often a protruding pad-like arolium (Figure 6). 

Scopa 

Two forms of pollen collecting organs are found in bees. 
In all of the pollen bees (except in parasitic bees) they are 
composed of localized brushes of hairs, and the resulting 
organ is known as the scopa. Usually these scopal hairs 
are more elongate and spine-like than the other body 
hairs, and they may be either simple and unbranched or 
more or less densely plumose. 

The honeybees of the family Apidae have a more 
specialized structure, called the corbicula or "pollen 
basket". In such bees the outer surface of the hind tibia is 
bare and highly polished and is surrounded by a marginal 
fringe of hairs, forming the basket. Female bees have 
scopae for holding and transporting pollen while the 
males lack such structures. Exceptions are the bees of 
Hylaeniae, Euryglossinae and Colletidae, parasitic and 
robber bees in various families, and queens of highly 
eusocial bees (Apidae), all of which lack scopae. The 
scopa consists of pollen carrying hairs in which pollen 
is carried back to the nest. In most bees the scopal hairs 
are on the hind legs, but in non-parasitic Megachilidae 
they are on the metasomal sterna; in some Collectids and 
Halictids they are on both the underside of the metasoma 
and on the hind legs. 

Metasoma 

Excluding the propodeum, which is the 1 s t abdominal 
segment, the abdomen includes 6 well-defined segments 
in the female and 7 in the male. Each segment is composed 
of a dorsal, strongly arched tergum and a relatively flat 
ventral sternum. There are no pleural plates. 

Metasomal terga and sterna are referred to as T l , 
T2, etc., and SI , S2, etc. T l and SI constitute the basal 
segments of the metasoma (Figure 7a). Each metasomal 
tergum or sternum consists of a plate commonly marked 
by some transverse lines. Across the anterior margin, 
always completely hidden in the intact metasoma, is 
the antecostal suture. Near the posterior margin of 

each tergum and sternum is usually another transverse 
line, the premarginal line, separating the marginal zone 
from the rest of the sclerite (Figure 7b). Tl differs from 
other terga because its base is constricted to the narrow 
connection with the thorax. The terga are always provided 
with transverse bands of pale hair which are termed as 
metasomal bands. 

The pygidial plate (Figure 7a) is usually a flat plate, 
commonly surrounded laterally and posteriorly by a 
carina and in some cases produced as an apical projection, 
on T6 in females and T7 in males. It is more often absent 
or rudimentary in males than in females. Soil dwelling 
females use the pygidial plate to compact the soil of 
burrows and cells 1 7. Dense hairs on T6 of females, on 
each side of the pygidial plate, constitute the pygidial 
fimbriae, which are divided into two parts by the plate. 
T7 of the female is always completely hidden. 

Collection of bees 

Bees are active when the sun is out and can be collected 
from flowers, off vegetation and their nesting sites. A 
standard insect net can be used for collecting bees that is 
swung rapidly over vegetation. A net with a long-handle 
is used for collecting bees from tall trees. Bee specimens 
collected should be curated according to standard 
methods before identification. 

Material used in the key 

All materials upon which these keys are based were field 
collected and the specimens were either identified by 
experts (Dr. Alain Pauly, Dr. M. Terzo, Dr. S.W.T. Batra 
and Dr. B.B. Norden) or by the authors using taxonomic 
keys and descriptions and crosschecked with expert 
identified reference specimens lodged in the National 
Museum, Colombo and the Invertebrate Systematics 
and Diversity Facility (ISDF) of the University of 
Peradeniya. 

Identification keys 

The keys have been designed for use with bee specimens 
mounted on pins viewed under a stereo-microscope 
(magnification 2 x 0.7 - 4.5). Notes on general 
appearance, distinguished features, habits in life (buzzing 
at flowers and nectar robbing) and host-plant range as 
well as their distribution have also been included. This 
information can be an additional aid to identification. 
The keys provide salient features of 41 commonly 
occurring species of bees in 25 genera, and the 3 families 
(Halictidae, Megachilidae and Apidae). 

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36(1) March 2008 



7 4 W.A.I.P. Karunaratne & J.P. Edirisinghe 

K E Y T O T H E T H R E E C O M M O N F A M I L I E S O F B E E S 

( m o d i f i e d f rom I n s e c t s o f A u s t r a l i a , S u p e r f a m i l y A p o i d e a b y C D . M i c h e n e r 1 8 ) 

1. M o u t h p a r t s wi th the first 2 s e g m e n t s of the labial pa lp e longa te , shea th- l ike , and flattened, 
in s t rong contras t to the distal 2 s egmen t s ; ga lea wi th pos t palpal par t genera l ly e longa te and 
usual ly longer than s t ipes; g lossa e longa te and po in ted and usual ly longer than p r e m e n t u m 
( L o n g - t o n g u e d bees) (F igure 2a) . 

2 

Labial pa lp wi th the p r o x i m a l and distal s e g m e n t s s imilar and sub-cyl indr ica l ; ga lea wi th pos t 
palpal par t m u c h shor ter than s t ipes; g lossa shor ter than p r e m e n t u m (Shor t - tongued bees ) . 
G los sa poin ted apica l ly (F igure 2 b ) ; fore w i n g wi th 3 sub-marg ina l cel ls (F igure 5a) ; scopa on 
h ind legs and base of the gaster. 

HALICTIDAE (Page 78) 

2. Fore wing wi th 2 sub-marg ina l cel ls (F igure 5b) ; scopa (pol len car ry ing hairs) w h e n present is 
on the ventral s ide o f the a b d o m e n . 

MEGACHILIDAE (Page 83) 

Fore w i n g wi th 3 sub-marg ina l cel ls (on ly 1 cell in Trigone; on ly 2 cells in Braunsapis); po l len 
ca r ry ing s t ruc tures w h e n present is on the hind t ibia e i ther forming a scopa or a corbicula 
( pol len basket ) . 

APIDAE (Page 74) 

K E Y T O C O M M O N G E N E R A A N D S P E C I E S O F F A M I L Y A P I D A E 

1. Pol len car ry ing hairs in hind t ibia of females forming a corb icu la (pol len baske t I ( excep t in the 
queen bee ) ; h ind t ibial spurs absent . 

7 

Pol len car ry ing hairs on hind t ibia o f females w h e n presen t not fo rming a pol len basket ; h ind 

tibial spurs present (F igure 6) . 

; 2 

2. Fore w ing wi th 2 submarg ina l cel ls ; s lender bees wi th soft cut ic le ; mos t species are b lack wi th 
ivory or ye l low m a r k s on the face ( t r iangular shape spot on female c lypeus and square shape 
spot on ma le c lypeus ) , often on the pronota l lobes and tarsi ; fairly c o m m o n genus vis i t ing 
flowers of mos t ly he rbaceous plants as wel l as t rees ; d is t r ibuted in a wide range of al t i tudes 
in the In te rmedia te , Wet and Dry Z o n e s o f the coun t ry ; nest in p i thy s t ems as well as in pre­
exis t ing ho les in w o o d e n s t ructures . 

, Braunsapis 

Fore w i n g wi th 3 submarg ina l cel ls ; combina t ion o f other charac te rs different. 

3 

3 . S c o p a a b s e n t in f e m a l e ; m o d e r a t e s i z e d b e e s ; s c u t e l l u m flat a n d p r o d u c e d p o s t e r i o r l y 

( F i g u r e 8) a s a s h a r p l y m a r g i n e d p l a t e o v e r m e t a n o t u m , b i d e n t a t e w i t h b r o a d V- o r 

U - s h a p e d e m a r g i n a t i o n b e t w e e n t e e t h ; b o d y w i t h a r e a s o f s c a l e - l i k e p l u m o s e h a i r s f o r m i n g 

w h i t e , b l u e o r b l u e - g r e e n s p o t s o r b r o k e n b a n d s on abdomina l terga; c leptoparas i t ic bees ; 

March 2008 Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (I) 



Keys to the common bees of Sri Lanka 75 

wings largely bare and apically papillate (Figure 9); common in the Dry zone and favour dry 
weather conditions; visit flowers largely for nectar, scout around nests of bees. 

Thyreus 

- Scopa present in female 4 

4. Small and narrow bees, body less than 7mm in length; integument shiny and nearly hairless 
or with short sparse hairs; pygidial plate absent in female; apex of T 6 of female pointed; body 
black, dark brown-red or metallic blue-green; clypeus is an inverted " T shape (Figure 10); all 
species have yellow markings at least on face; wings not papillate. 

Ceratina 8 

- Broader bees; body greater than 8mm in length; integument shiny or opaque, more or less 
hairy; distal part of wings beyond veins being strongly papillate; pygidial plate present 
in female (Figure 7); clypeus normal; colouration variable. 

5 

5. Paraglossa long, often reaching the distal end of the second segment of the labial palpus; 
clypeus distinctly produced forward; tibial scopa with sparsely set branched hairs; males 
with very long antennae; body brown or black-brown, without coloured hair patches or 
bands; wings largely bare, the distal parts beyond the veins being strongly papillate; fast flying 
bees, pollen collecting restricted to floral species with large pollen grains as in Convolvulaceae 
(Argyreia populifolia, Ipomoea mauritiana) and Malvaceae (Hibiscus furcatus) flowers; rare 
bees, emergence of adults synchronize with the blooming of their host plants; nests in the 
ground. 

Tetralonia 

- Paraglossa normal; clypeus slightly produced forward; tibial scopa with closely set hairs; males 
have moderately long antennae; body mostly with coloured hair patches or bands. 

6 

6. Labium much forwardly projected, prominent (Figure 11a); bees have metallic blue-green, 
yellow, orange or white metasomal bands except in one species; tibial scopa includes a 
band of plumose hairs near the upper margin of the tibia; moderate sized bees; fast flyers; 
common on nectar producing tubular flowers; buzz at Solanaceae flowers (e.g. brinjal); nest in 
the ground. 

Amegilla 9 

- Labrum only slightly exerted (Figure 1 lb); not so prominent; parts of proboscis strongly 
sclerotized; abdomen without hair bands, but sometimes with pale hair cover; moderate to 
large sized bees; distal parts of the wings strongly papillate. 

Xylocopa (carpenter bees) 11 

7. Medium to large sized (8-16 mm in length) moderately hairy bees; body rather elongate; claws 
of females cleft (Figure 12); arolia present; wings with complete strong venation. 

Apis 14 

- Small (<5 mm in length) bees; claws simple; hind basitarsus slender at base (Figure 13); 
sting absent; wings with marginal cells open at apex; one complete submarginal cell 
present (Figure 14); wings hyaline and brilliantly iridescent; very common in all parts 
of the country, visit a wide range of floral hosts for nectar and pollen; collect pollen even 

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1) March 2008 



7 6 W.A.I.P. Karunaralne & J.P. Edirisinghe 

f r o m f resh ly fa l len f l o w e r s ; soc i a l b e e tha t n e s t s in c r e v i c e s o f r o c k s , b a r k o f t r e e s a n d 

e v e n in m a n m a d e s t r u c t u r e s . 

Trigona iridipennis ( s t i n g l e s s b e e ) 

8. B o d y b l a c k to d a r k b r o w n w i t h y e l l o w m a r k i n g s o n a l m o s t all s e g m e n t s o f t h e b o d y ; a 

v e r y c o m m o n b e e tha t v i s i t s a w i d e r a n g e o f flowering p l a n t s , m o s t l y h e r b s ; d i s t r i b u t e d 

t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y ; n e s t s in p i t h y s t e m s o f Gliricidia a n d r o s e . 

Ceratina hieroglyphica 

- B o d y b r i l l i an t m e t a l l i c b l u e o r g r e e n ( f e m a l e s a r e g r e e n i s h , m a l e s a re b l u i s h ) ; y e l l o w 

c o l o u r e d m a r k i n g s a r e r e s t r i c t e d to face a n d l e g s ; a fa i r ly c o m m o n b e e v i s i t i n g m o s t l y 

h e r b a c e o u s p l a n t s in a l m o s t all p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y ; n e s t s in p i t h y s t e m s o f Gliricidia. 

Ceratina binghami 

9. B o d y e n t i r e l y b l a c k c o v e r e d w i t h b l a c k to d a r k b r o w n h a i r s ; w i n g s d a r k fu scous w i t h a 

r ich p u r p l e e f f u l g e n c e ; p y g i d i a l p l a t e r o u n d e d p o s t e r i o r l y ; s c o p a e n t i r e l y b l a c k w i t h l o n g 

p l u m o s e s h i n i n g h a i r s ; a b d o m e n s m o o t h a n d a c i c u l a t e ; l a rge ly f o u n d in t h e D r y Z o n e o f 

Sri L a n k a ; p r e f e r s t u b u l a r f l o w e r s t o c o l l e c t nec ta r . 

Amegilla violacea 

- H e a d a n d t h o r a x d a r k b r o w n , a b d o m e n b l a c k ; T l t o T 4 w i t h an ap i ca l fasc ia o f b l u e 

s c a l e s ; w i n g s s u b h y a l i n e ; p y g i d i a l p l a t e t a p e r i n g p o s t e r i o r l y ; s c o p a w h i t e o r w i t h b l a c k 

a n d w h i t e p l u m o s e h a i r s . 

10 

10. T l t o T 4 w i t h an ap i ca l fascia o f l ight m e t a l l i c b l u e s c a l e l i ke h a i r s ; s c o p a l a rge ly o f w h i t e 

ha i r s ; w i n g s s u b h y a l i n e , v e i n s f u s c o u s , t e g u l a t e s t a c e o u s ; f o u n d b e l o w 9 0 0 m in t h e t h r e e 

m a j o r a g r o e c o l o g i c a l r e g i o n s o f t h e c o u n t r y ; p r e f e r t u b u l a r f l ower s to co l l ec t nec ta r . 

Amegilla puttalama 

- T l t o T 4 w i t h a n a p i c a l f a sc i a o f d e e p m e t a l l i c b l u e s c a l e l ike h a i r s ; a n t e r i o r h a l f o f t h e 

p o l l e n b r u s h w i t h g r a y i s h - w h i t e h a i r s w i t h a b l a c k - b r o w n l ine e n d i n g a t t h e m i d d l e o f t h e 

t ib ia b e l o w t h e bas i t i b i a l p l a t e ; w i n g s s u b h y a l i n e , v e i n s f u s c o u s , t e g u l a t e s t a c e o u s ; f o u n d 

b e l o w 9 0 0 m in t h e t h r e e m a j o r a g r o e c o l o g i c a l r e g i o n s o f t h e c o u n t r y ; p r e f e r t u b u l a r 

f l o w e r s t o c o l l e c t nec ta r . 

Amegilla comberi 

11 . T h o r a x a b o v e o f f e m a l e w i t h a t h i c k c o a t o f b r i g h t y e l l o w h a i r s e x c e p t for m i d d l e 

v e r t i c a l l i ne ; t h o r a x a b o v e o f m a l e w i t h a t h i c k c o a t o f o l i v e g r e e n h a i r s ; b a s i t i b i a l p l a t e 

t a p e r s t o w a r d s t h e m i d d l e o f t h e t ib i a a n d e n d s b l u n t l y ( F i g u r e 15) ; a b d o m e n w i t h b l a c k 

h a i r s l a t e r a l l y ; l e g s b l a c k w i t h b l a c k h a i r s ; s c u t e l l u m w i t h a s h a r p t r a n s v e r s e t r u n c a t i o n 

o v e r h a n g i n g t h e m e t a n o t u m ; w i n g s f u s c o u s w i t h a p u r p l e e f f u l g e n c e ; f o u n d l a rge ly in t h e 

D r y Z o n e o f t h e c o u n t r y ; m a i n l y f o u n d o n flowers o f L e g u m i n o s a e ; b u z z a t flowers o f 

S o l a n a c e a e c r o p s t o c o l l e c t p o l l e n . 

Xylocopa ruficornis 

- T h o r a x in t h e m i d d l e w i t h o u t h a i r s , s h i n y a n d s u r r o u n d e d b y b l a c k - b r o w n h a i r s ; 

c o m b i n a t i o n o f o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s d i f ferent . 

12 

March 2008 Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1) 



Keys to the common bees of Sri Lanka 77 

12. Wings dark fuscous with purple at base, turning to metallic blue followed by metallic 
green at the apex; basitibial plate tapers posteriorly forming an apical tooth that projects 
out (Figure 16); posterior margin of the scutellum lamellate and hangs over post-scutellum; 
abdominal segments fringed with long black hairs laterally; fairly common bee throughout 
the country; largely visits flowers of Leguminosae; buzz at flowers of Solanaceae and 
Melastomataceae to collect pollen; nest in rafters of old buildings. 

Xylocopa tenuiscapa 

- Wings entirely fuscous with a purple luster; combination of other characters different. 

13 

13. Less than 18 mm in length; basitibial plate with a row of tubercles on each side (Figure 
17); black bee, thorax laterally covered with black-brown hairs; fairly common on flowers 
of Leguminosae such as Cassia and Crotalaria; found throughout the country. 

Xylocopa fenestrata 

- Length < 15 mm; basitibial plate with 2 rows of small lateral tubercles (dorsal row 
prominent) that ends slightly below the middle of the tibia with 2 apical perpendicular 
teeth (Figure 18); black bees, in males area below the antennae and the clypeus creamy-
white; largely found in the Dry Zone visiting small flowers of wild plants like Hyptis, 
Tachytarpheta and Tephrosia. 

Xylocopa amethystina 

14. Body length of worker bee 15-16 mm (largest in size); abdominal segments T1-T2 honey-
yellow, rest black; wings hyaline at base, fuscous in the middle and darker towards the 
anterior margin, veins and tegula fuscous; common throughout the country visiting a 
variety of flowers; found in large numbers in flowering tall trees; nest in hives that hang 
from branches of huge trees, rocks and buildings. 

Apis dorsata (the giant honeybee) 

- Body length of worker 12 mm (medium in size); base of Tl -T5 testaceous, rest fuscous 
black; legs fuscous; wings subhyaline and iridescent, nerve and tegula fuscous; very 
common on flowering vegetation throughout the country; builds hives in crevices of trees 
and in manmade structures; domesticated in agriculture for obtaining honey and crop 
pollination. 

Apis cerana (the domesticated/common honeybee) 

- Worker body length 8 mm (smallest in size); head and thorax black, basal 2 segments of 
the abdomen more or less red; wings hyaline and iridescent, nerves testaceous, tegula 
black; found throughout the country on flowering trees and herbaceous plants; build hives 
in small branches of small-medium sized trees. 

Apis florae (the dwarf honeybee) 

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1) March 2008 



78 W.A.I.P. Karunaralne & J.P. Edirisinghe 

K E Y T O C O M M O N G E N E R A A N D S P E C I E S O F F A M I L Y H A L I C T I D A E 

1. M a r g i n a l ce l l o f fore w i n g t a p e r s m u c h t o w a r d its a p e x , w h i c h is n o t r o u n d e d ; 

w h e n t h e r e a r e t h r e e s u b m a r g i n a l ce l l s , 3 r d is s h o r t e r t h a n 1 s t a n d less t h a n 

t w i c e a s l o n g as s e c o n d s u b m a r g i n a l ce l l ( F i g u r e 19) . 

2 

- M a r g i n a l ce l l o f fore w i n g d o e s n o t t a p e r m u c h t o w a r d its a p e x , w h i c h is r o u n d e d ; w h e n 

t h r e e s u b m a r g i n a l ce l l s p r e s e n t , 3 r d u s u a l l y a s l o n g as 1 s t , i f sho r t e r , t h e n u s u a l l y t w i c e a s 

l o n g a s s e c o n d s u b m a r g i n a l ce l l ( F i g u r e 2 0 ) . 

5 

2 . F e m a l e s w i t h o u t s c o p a ; a b d o m e n p a r t l y o r w h o l l y r e d , s o m e t i m e s e n t i r e l y b l a c k in m a l e s ; 

w a s p - l i k e w i t h o n l y f ew h a i r s o n t h e b o d y ; s c u l p t u r i n g v e r y p r o m i n e n t , h e a d & t h o r a x 

a b o v e c o a r s e l y p i t t ed ; d o r s a l s u r f a c e o f t h e p r o p o d e u m m a r k e d b y a f ew c o a r s e , o f ten 

i r r e g u l a r l o n g i t u d i n a l r u g a e d e l i m i t i n g s h i n i n g s p a c e s ; p r e f e r d r y c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s ; n o t 

ea s i ly f o u n d o n f l ower s b u t s c o u t a r o u n d flowers; p a r a s i t i c in n e s t s o f o t h e r H a l i c t i d b e e s . 

Sphecodes 

- F e m a l e s w i t h a s c o p a o n h i n d l egs a n d b a s e o f a b d o m e n ; c o m b i n a t i o n o f o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s 

d i f f e r e n t 

3 

3 . F o r e w i n g w i t h 3 r d a n d of ten 2 n d s u b m a r g i n a l c r o s s v e i n a n d s e c o n d r e c u r r e n t v e i n w e a k e r 

t h a n t h e n e a r b y v e i n s in f e m a l e ( F i g u r e s 2 1 a & 2 1 b ) ; s m a l l , u n a t t r a c t i v e b l a c k to d a r k 

b r o w n b e e s . 

Lasioglossum 12 

- F i r s t , 2 n d a n d 3 r d s u b m a r g i n a l c r o s s v e i n s e q u a l l y s t r o n g . 

4 

4 . B o d y m e t a l l i c g r e e n ; m a l e w i t h y e l l o w a r e a s o n c l y p e u s , f e m u r a n d t ib i a ; a b d o m i n a l 

s e g m e n t s w i t h y e l l o w i s h - w h i t e b a s a l a n d a p i c a l h a i r b a n d s ; g e n a l a r e a b r o a d e r t h a n t h e 

e y e s e e n from s i d e o f t h e h e a d ( F i g u r e 2 2 ) ; f ace b e l o w a n t e n n a e a n d g e n a l a r e a b e h i n d 

e y e s s p a r s e l y c o v e r e d w i t h s h o r t p l u m o s e w h i t e p u b e s c e n c e ; l egs c o v e r e d w i t h o c h r a c e o u s 

p u b e s c e n c e ; c o m m o n l y f o u n d o n flowers o f h e r b a c e o u s p l a n t s b e l o w 9 0 0 m e l e v a t i o n 

in t h e t h r e e m a j o r z o n e s o f t h e c o u n t r y ; n e s t in soft s a n d y soi l in b a r e g r o u n d f o u n d 

c o m m o n l y in a g r i c u l t u r a l l ands . 

Halictus lucidipennis 

- N o n m e t a l l i c b e e s ; g l o s s a v e r y sho r t ; a n t e n n a e s i m p l e in m a l e s ; o u t e r s u r f a c e o f t h e 

h i n d t ib ia w i t h t w o a r e a s o f d i f f e ren t ly a r r a n g e d h a i r s ( F i g u r e 2 3 ) ; b o d y f u s c o u s ; s c u t u m 

p r o d u c e d a n t e r i o r l y t o fo rm a c a r i n a e m a r g i n a t e d in t h e m i d d l e ( F i g u r e 2 4 ) ; p r o n o t u m 

w i d e l y e m a r g i n a t e d in t h e m i d d l e a n d l a t e ra l ly p r o d u c e d to f o r m a s t r o n g l a m e l l a 

t o w a r d s p r o n o t a l l o b e s ; b a s a l a r e a o f p r o p o d e u m l a rge , c a r i n a t e p o s t e r i o r l y , ve r t i ca l s t r i ae 

f o r m s a n e t w o r k at b a s e ; d i s t r i b u t e d a r o u n d P e r a d e n i y a a n d K n u c k l e s , b u z z l a rge ly at 

M e l a s t o m a t a c e a e a n d S o l a n a c e a e f l o w e r s to c o l l e c t p o l l e n . 

Patellapis kaluterae 

5 T e g u l a e n l a r g e d p o s t e r i o r l y a n d p a s s e s t h e s c u t o - s c u t e l l e r s u t u r e ( F i g u r e 2 5 ) . 

6 

March 2008 Journal of the National Scicnc e Foundation of Sri Lanka J6 11) 



Keys to the common bees of Sri Lanka 79 

- Tegula not enlarged, does not pass the scuto-scuteller suture 7 

6. Fore wing with three submarginal cells; outer margin of eyes with a preoccipital carina 
(Figure 26); basitibial plate of female margined by a carina only on posterior side; 
hind tibiae of males with enlarged apical lobe; hind femur with ventral flap-like white 
hairs (Figure 27); lamella on the pronotal lobe translucent and larger than that of any 
other Nomiinae; abdominal terga with premarginal line prominent and elevated mostly 
laterally; body black; two antero-lateral patches on Tl , basal fascia on T2, a basal and an 
apical fascia on T3 and T4 with snow-white pubescence; paraocular area on head, thorax 
laterally and legs with snow-white pubescence; hairs above thorax ochraceous, hairs very 
short and densely covering pronotal lobes and postscutellum above; wings fulvous and 
dusky towards the apex; most anterior part of tegula black with the rest orange-red; fairly 
common on a wide variety of floral hosts, specially on herbs below 900 m elevation; nests 
in the ground. 

Pseudapis oxybeloides 

- Fore wing with two submarginal cells; outer margin of eyes without preoccipital carina; 
prothoracic lamella well developed and covered with a thick coat of very short plumose 
fulvous hairs; head and thorax black; Tl and T2 red and the rest black; head, thorax laterally 
and legs covered with golden-yellow hairs; wings dusky and becoming darker towards the 
apex; found on flowers of herbaceous plants of the family Fabaceae; distributed in dry 
areas such as Randenigala, Puttalam, Hambantota and Chilaw; nests in the ground. 

Steganomus nodicornis 

7. Marginal zones of terga with integumental bands of white, yellow, green or blue. 

8 

- Marginal zones of terga without integumental bands, but with bands of coloured hairs. 

11 

8. Metanotum with two broad, basely fused, lame- lliform projections often joined to each 
other (Figure 28); body black-dark brown; abdomen smooth, basal four abdominal 
segments with bright green transverse fascia on apical margins; sides of Tl and T2 reddish 
brown; wings ochraceous, little dusky towards apex; face in front and body covered with 
plumose white hairs; legs with plumose white long hairs on outer surface and brownish 
yellow hairs on inner surface; common in a wide variety of flowering plants below 900 m 
elevation; ground nesting bees; Basitibial plate of female margined on both sides. 

Hoplonomia westwoodi 

- Metanotum without projections; basitibial plate of female margined by carina only on 
posterior side. 

9 

9. Outer hind tibial spur bent near at apex and with a subapical tooth (Figure 29); integumental 
bands of T1-T4 bright green; body black, face covered with grayish-white glittering 
plumose hairs; thorax above with black brown sparsely set short hairs; legs fuscous 
covered with fulvous hairs; visits a wide variety of floral hosts below 900 m elevation; 
ground nesting bee. 

Curvinomia formosa 

- Outer hind tibial spur without modified or bent apex, without subapical tooth; integumental 
bands white or yellow; combination of other characters not as above. 

10 

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1) March 2008 



80 W.A.I.P. Karunaralne &J.P. Edirisinghe 

10. T e r g u m 1 w i t h o u t a c o l o u r e d b a n d , w i t h a p a l e h a i r b a n d o n l y l a t e ra l ly ; h i n d f e m u r o f m a l e 

w i t h o u t t o o t h ; m a l e s w i t h bas i t i b i a l p l a t e m a r g i n e d b y c a r i n a o n p o s t e r i o r s i de ; m a r g i n a l 

z o n e s o f T 2 - T 4 w i t h a w h i t e fasc ia ; T 5 w i t h a fasc ia o f l o n g y e l l o w i s h b r o w n h a i r s ; w i n g s 

h y a l i n e w i t h a s l i gh t f u l v o u s t in t b o d y b l a c k to d a r k b r o w n ; p a r a o c u l a r a r e a c o v e r e d 

w i t h a t h i c k c o a t o f s h o r t g l i t t e r i n g y e l l o w i s h - w h i t e p l u m o s e h a i r s ; s c u t u m a n d s c u t e l l u m 

a b o v e w i t h a t h i c k c o a t o f v e r y s h o r t b r o w n h a i r s ; p o s t - s c u t e l l u m d e n s e l y c o v e r e d w i t h a 

t h i c k c o a t o f y e l l o w i s h b r o w n p l u m o s e h a i r s ; l egs f u s c o u s w i t h o c h r a c e o u s p u b e s c e n c e ; 

fair ly c o m m o n o n a w i d e v a r i e t y o f f loral h o s t s b e l o w 9 0 0 m e l e v a t i o n . 

Leuconomia 

- T e r g u m 1 w i t h a c o l o u r e d b a n d ; h i n d f e m u r o f m a l e w i t h t o o t h ; m a l e w i t h o u t bas i t i b i a l 

p l a t e ; b o d y b l a c k , ap i ca l m a r g i n s o f t h e a b d o m i n a l s e g m e n t s 1-4 b r i g h t g r e e n i s h y e l l o w 

( n o t h a i r y ) , s m o o t h a n d s h i n y ; b o d y c o v e r e d w i t h g o l d e n b r o w n p l u m o s e h a i r s ; t h o r a x 

a b o v e c o v e r e d w i t h a t h i c k c o a t o f r e d d i s h b r o w n p l u m o s e h a i r s ; l egs c o v e r e d w i t h g o l d e n 

f u l v o u s h a i r s ; f o u n d v i s i t i n g a w i d e v a r i e t y o f h e r b a c e o u s f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s b e l o w 9 0 0 m 

e l e v a t i o n . 

Nomia crass ipes 

11. P r o n o t u m w i t h a c o n t i n u o u s o r m e d i a l l y n o t c h e d t r a n s v e r s e c a r i n a or l a m e l l a a n t e r i o r 

t o t h e s c u t u m ( F i g u r e 3 0 ) ; b a s i t i b a l p l a t e o f f e m a l e d e l i m i t e d b y a c a r i n a o n l y a l o n g 

p o s t e r i o r s i d e ; m e t a s o m a w i t h red a r e a s in c e r t a i n s p e c i e s . 

Lipotriches... . 17 

- P r o n o t u m w i t h o u t a c o n t i n u o u s c a r i n a or l ame l l a ; b a s i t i b i a l p l a t e o f f e m a l e c o m p l e t e ; 

g l o s s a sho r t ; m e t a s o m a b l a c k . 

Auslronomia ....24 

12. In f e m a l e s , fo re w i n g w i t h 2 n d a n d 3 r d s u b m a r g i n a l c r o s s v e i n s a n d t h e 2 n d r e c u r r e n t ve in 

w e a k e r t h a n a d j a c e n t v e i n s . 

13 

- F o r e w i n g w i t h o n l y t h e 3 r d s u b m a r g i n a l c r o s s v e i n w e a k e r a n d n o t t h e 2 n d 16 

13 . B a s a l a r e a o f p r o p o d e u m s l i g h t l y c a r i n a t e p o s t e r i o r l y h e a d a n d t h o r a x b l a c k ; b o d y l e n g t h 

5.5 m m d i s t r i b u t i o n > 9 0 0 m e l e v a t i o n ( c o n f i n e d t o N u w a r a E l iya , S i t a E l i y a , B a d u l l a , 

B a n d a r a w e l a , K n u c k l e s ) ; g e n e r a l i s t b e e s v i s i t i ng m o s t l y h e r b a c e o u s flowering p l a n t s ; 

n e s t s in t h e g r o u n d . 

Lasioglossum ( E v y l a e u s ) carnifrons 

- B a s a l a r e a o f p r o p o d e u m n o t c a r i n a t e p o s t e r i o r l y ; D i s t r i b u t i o n > 9 0 0 m e l e v a t i o n ; b o d y 

l e n g t h 6 . 0 0 m m o r m o r e ; c o m b i n a t i o n o f o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s n o t a s a b o v e . 

Lasioglossum (Sudila) 

( S p e c i e s k e y m o d i f i e d f rom S a k a g a m i , E b m e r a n d T a d a u c h i , 1996) 14 

14. H e a d a n d t h o r a x b l a c k w i t h m e t a l l i c y e l l o w i s h - g r e e n t in t ; a b d o m e n b l a c k ; p r o p o d e u m 

b r o a d a n d b l a c k w i t h v e r y fine d i v e r g i n g l o n g i t u d i n a l s t r i ae ; w i n g s d u s k y t o w a r d s t h e 

ap i ca l m a r g i n a n d i r i d e s c e n t ; b o d y c o v e r e d w i t h c l o s e l y se t p l u m o s e f u l v o u s h a i r s ; 

v e r y c o m m o n a b o v e 9 0 0 m e l e v a t i o n o n a w i d e r a n g e o f f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s ; b u z z at 

M e l a s t o m a t a c e a e a n d S o l a n a c e a e flowers t o c o l l e c t p o l l e n ; g r o u n d n e s t i n g b e e s . 

Lasioglossum alphenum 

H e a d and t h o r a x b l a c k w i t h o u t me ta l l i c g r e e n t int ; c o m b i n a t i o n o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s no t a s 

a b o v e . 

15 

March 2008 Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (I) 



Keys to the common bees of Sri Lanka 81 

15. Mesoscutum and basal area of propodeum with fine and weak micro-reticulations thus 
appearing as homogenously granular and dimly shining; wings subhyaline and dusky 
towards apical margin; legs slender and fuscous; body covered with sparsely set ochraceous 
short hairs; found above 900 m elevation visiting a variety of flowering plants. 

Lasioglossum bidentatum 

- Mesoscutum and basal area of propodeum coarsely sculptured; basal area of propodeum 
large and the sculpturing is coarser; abdomen without hair bands; wings fulvous; legs 
fuscous; body relatively densely covered with long fulvous hairs than in other Sudila species; 
distributed above 900 m elevation and visits a wide variety of floral hosts for pollen. 

Lasioglossum aulacophorum 

16. Face elongated; glossa about as long as the head or even longer than the head; branching 
of the scopal hairs of the hind trochanter and femur reduced; abdomen basally red, fuscous 
apically; head and thorax black, T1 and T2 only at the basal half reddish-brown, rest fuscous; 
T2-T4 with a basal fascia of yellowish-white plumose hairs; wings hyaline; distributed 
around Peradeniya; collected largely on flowers of the family Convolvulaceae. 

Lasioglossum (Nasohalictus) serenum 

- Glossa very short, similar in length to the length of clypeus; face only slightly elongated; 
scopal hairs not as above; black bees; fairly common; distributed in the Wet, Intermediate 
and Dry Zones of Sri Lanka at <900 m elevation. 

Lasioglossum (Ctenonomia) amblypygus 

17. In the male, antenna with 13 segments; scopa absent 18 (Males ofLipotriches) 

- In the female, antenna with 12 segments; scopa present on hind legs. 

21 (Females ofLipotriches) 

18. Ocelli surrounded by a carina; face below the antennae densely covered with a coat 
of short, plumose golden hairs; abdominal fascia thick and fulvous; tibia and basitarsi 
covered with a thick layer of long yellowish white plumose hairs on outer side 

Lipotriches fulvinerva 

- Ocelli without carina; combination of other characters not as above 19 

19. S5 completely covered by long erected setae 20 

- S5 without long erected setae; S4 with two small elliptical depressions perforated by 
pores; S5 without area of strong short setae; face below the antennae thickly covered with 
short, glittering ochraceous plumose hairs; legs slender. 

Lipotriches exagens 

20. S4 with a large depression completely filled by dense plumose white setae; I s 1 abdominal 
segment petiolate; body black; face below the antennae with thick coat of whitish glittering 
plumose hairs; body hairs whitish. 

Lipotriches pulchriventris 

S4 not depressed, glabrous; S5 with white pubescence; I s 1 abdominal segment petiolate; 
face below the antennae with a thick coat of yellowish glittering plumose hairs; body hairs 
yellowish. 

Lipotriches edirisinghei 

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36(1) March 2008 



82 W.A.I.P. Karunaralne & J.P. Edirisinghe 

2 1 . O c e l l i s u r r o u n d e d b y c a r i n a ; m e t a s o m a b l a c k ; p r o n o t u m w i t h a v e r y p r o m i n e n t m e d i a l l y 

n o t c h e d t r a n s v e r s e , t r a n s l u c e n t l a m e l l a a n t e r i o r t o t h e s c u t u m at a b o v e t h e leve l o f a n t e r i o r 

s c u t a l m a r g i n ; basa l a r e a o f p r o p o d e u m v e r y n a r r o w , c a r i n a t e a n t e r i o r l y a n d p o s t e r i o r l y ; 

h e a d a n d t h o r a x b l a c k ; a b d o m e n o v a l a n d f u s c o u s - b l a c k ; m a r g i n a l z o n e s b r o a d a n d 

t r a n s l u c e n t c o v e r e d w i t h a b r o a d fasc ia o f t h i c k c o a t o f s h o r t y e l l o w i s h w h i t e p l u m o s e 

h a i r s ; T 5 w i t h l o n g o c h r a c e o u s h a i r s a t t h e p o s t e r i o r half; w i n g s f u s c o u s ; l egs c o v e r e d 

w i t h g l i t t e r i n g l o n g o c h r a c e o u s h a i r s ; l a rge ly f o u n d o n f l o w e r s o f h e r b s a n d s p e c i a l l y o n 

g r a s s f l o w e r s d u r i n g e a r l y m o r n i n g ; p r e f e r s i n t e r m e d i a t e c l i m a t i c z o n e s . 

Lipotriches fulvinerva 

- O c e l l i w i t h o u t c a r i n a ; c o m b i n a t i o n o f o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s n o t a s a b o v e 2 2 

2 2 . M e t a s o m a b r o w n b l a c k ; l a rge s p e c i e s ( 6 - 8 . 5 m m ) 2 3 

- M e t a s o m a p a r t l y r ed ; s m a l l e r s p e c i e s ( 6 m m o r l e s s ) ; p r o n o t u m c a r i n a t e a n d a l w a y s a t 

t h e leve l o f t h e a n t e r i o r m a r g i n o f t h e s c u t u m , b u t no t f o r m i n g a l a m e l l a ; h e a d a n d t h o r a x 

b l a c k ; T l a n d T 2 r e d d i s h - b r o w n , T 3 - T 5 f u s c o u s ; m a r g i n a l z o n e s o f T 2 o n l y l a t e ra l ly 

a n d a fasc ia o n m a r g i n a l z o n e s o f T 3 - T 4 o f y e l l o w i s h w h i t e p l u m o s e h a i r s ; l egs f u s c o u s ; 

w i n g s s u b h y a l i n e a n d i r i d e s c e n t ; c o m m o n l y d i s t r i b u t e d in K a n d y o n a w i d e r a n g e o f 

h e r b a c e o u s f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s . 

Lipotriches exagens 

2 3 . C l y p e u s a n d s u p r a c l y p e a l a r e a a t t h e s a m e l e v e l ; v e r t e x c a r i n a t e p o s t e r i o r l y ; p r o n o t u m 

w i t h a c o n t i n u o u s s h o r t l a m e l l a a n t e r i o r to t h e s c u t u m a n d at s l i gh t ly a b o v e t h e l eve l 

o f a n t e r i o r s cu t a l m a r g i n ; h e a d a n d t h o r a x b l a c k , a b d o m e n f u s c o u s ; m a r g i n a l z o n e s o f 

T 3 , T 4 a n d T l , T 2 o n l y l a t e ra l ly w i t h a n a r r o w fasc ia o f sho r t y e l l o w i s h w h i t e p l u m o s e 

h a i r s ; T 5 w i t h l o n g f u s c o u s h a i r s a t its ap i ca l half; l egs f u s c o u s w i t h l o n g g l i t t e r i n g h a i r s ; 

c o l l e c t e d o n l y f r o m P e r a d e n i y a o n h e r b a c e o u s f l o w e r s i n c l u d i n g g r a s s f l o w e r s . 

Lipotriches pulchriventria 

- S u t u r e b e t w e e n c l y p e u s a n d s u p r a c l y p e a l a r e a d i s t i n c t l y h ighe r , r a i s ed a b o v e t h e s u r f a c e 

f o r m i n g a p r o m i n e n t h o r i z o n t a l r i d g e a c r o s s t h e face b e t w e e n a n t e n n a l b a s e ( F i g u r e 3 1 ) ; 

p r o n o t u m w i t h a m e d i a l l y n o t c h e d t r a n s v e r s e c a r i n a s l i g h t l y r a i s e d a b o v e t h e a n t e r i o r 

s c u t e l l a r m a r g i n ; b o d y d a r k b r o w n ; T 1 - T 3 at m a r g i n a l z o n e s l igh t b r o w n a n d t r a n s l u c e n t ; 

m a r g i n a l z o n e s o f T 3 , T 4 a n d T l , T 2 o n l y l a t e ra l ly w i t h s h o r t p l u m o s e y e l l o w i s h - w h i t e 

h a i r s ; l egs f u s c o u s ; w i n g s s u b h y a l i n e ; d i s t r i b u t e d in P e r a d e n i y a , M a t a l e , R a t n a p u r a , 

K u r u n e g a l a a n d A n g u n a k o l a p e l e s s a v i s i t i ng a w i d e v a r i e t y o f f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s , s p e c i a l l y 

g r a s s e s . 

Lipotriches edirisinghei 

2 4 . A p i c a l ha i r b a n d s o n T 1 - T 4 a r e d e n s e a n d o f w h i t e h a i r s ; T 5 c o v e r e d w i t h l o n g p l u m o s e 

w h i t e h a i r s ; m a l e f e m o r a a n d t ib i a s l i g h t l y s w o l l e n ; h i n d bas i t a r s i s l ende r , n o t s w o l l e n ; 

h e a d a n d t h o r a x b l a c k ; a b d o m e n r e d d i s h - b r o w n v e n t r a l l y ; w i n g s f u l v o u s a n d i r i d e s c e n t 

t o w a r d s t h e a p e x ; h e a d in front b e l o w a n t e n n a e d e n s e l y c o v e r e d w i t h s h o r t g l i t t e r i n g 

p l u m o s e h a i r s ; s c u t u m a n d s c u t e l l u m a b o v e w i t h v e r y s h o r t o c h r a c e o u s h a i r s ; s c u t e l l u m 

w i t h h a i r s i n t e r s p e r s e d w i t h s p a r s e l y set l o n g f u s c o u s h a i r s ; p o s t - s c u t e l l u m a b o v e w i t h 

l o n g p l u m o s e w h i t e h a i r s ; w i d e l y d i s t r i b u t e d in t h e t h r e e m a j o r z o n e s o f t h e c o u n t r y 

b e l o w 9 0 0 m e l e v a t i o n ; v is i t a w i d e r a n g e o f floral h o s t s s p e c i a l l y h e r b a c e o u s p l a n t s for 

p o l l e n a n d nec ta r . 

Austronomia notiomorpha 

- T l - T 2 w i t h a b r o a d fasc ia o f y e l l o w p l u m o s e h a i r s ; T 5 w i t h l o n g p l u m o s e f u s c o u s 

s p a r s e l y se t h a i r s ; m a l e ba s i t a r s i d i s t a l l y s w o l l e n ; h i n d f e m o r a a n d t ib i a s l i gh t ly s w o l l e n ; 

b o d y b l a c k ; face in f ront b e l o w t h e b a s e o f a n t e n n a e w i t h s h i n n i n g sho r t p l u m o s e 

y e l l o w i s h h a i r s ; s c u t u m a n d s c u t e l l u m a b o v e w i t h s h o r t f u l v o u s ha i r s ; p o s t s c u t e l l u m 

March 200H Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1) 



Keys to the common bees of Sri Lanka 83 

densely covered with glittering yellowish grey hairs; distributed below 500 m elevation in 
the three major climatic zones of the country; visits a wide variety of floral hosts, specially 
herbaceous flowers for pollen and nectar. 

Austronomia krombeini 

KEY TO COMMON GENERA AND SPECIES OF FAMILY MEGACHILIDAE 

1. Scopa absent in female 2 

- Scopa present ventrally on abdomen in female 2 

2. Interantennal area elevated with a strong curved juxtantennal carina mesal to each antennal 
base (Figure 32); black bee; head, thorax and abdomen evenly punctured; marginal zones 
shining and glabrous; two sharp juxtantennal carina starting from frons run down to join 
at the base of the antennae and meets a carina running upward from the clypeus, altogether 
forming a Y - shaped carina (Figure 32); abdomen with sparse punctures, marginal zones 
shining, glabrous; wings fuscous towards apex; prefer dry weather conditions; largely 
attracted to small tubular flowers like Hyptis suaveolens for nectar; cleptoparasitic on 
Megachile bees. 

Euaspis edentata 

- Juxtantennal carina absent; axillae on metanotum produced posteriorly to an angle or 
spine (Figure 33); apex of female abdomen elongated, pointed, apex of male abdomen 
with several long spines (Figure 34); eyes often hairy; body mostly black with patches of 
scaly white hairs on almost all segments of the body; prefer dry weather conditions; rare 
bees visiting flowers mostly for nectar; cleptoparasitic on carpenter bees. 

Coelioxys 

3. Less than 4 mm in length; thorax elongated; coarsely punctate; anterior face of Tl with 
large concavity surrounded by strong carina; body black, head in front specially the 
paraocular area, thorax laterally, legs, abdominal segments 1-5 apically covered with soft 
white pubescence; abdomen shiny and much convex dorsally, T6 tapering posteriorly; 
wings hyaline and iridescent; metasoma of male curled to expose only T1-T3 dorsally; 
common in flowers of herbaceous plants; nest in pre-existing holes in wood. 

Heriades binghami 

- More than 7 mm in length; combination of other characters different 4 

4. Mid facial prominence present in female (Figure 35) (slightly in male); outer surface of 
hind tibia with coarse tubercles (Figure 36) (strongly punctuate in male); body black, 
with white pubescence on paraocular area and apex of clypeus; abdominal segments 1-5 
fringed with white pubescence; abdominal scopa black with sparsely set black hairs; wings 
slightly fuscous; specialist on large pollen grains of Convolvulaceae [Argyreiapopulifolia, 
Ipomoea cairica, I. mauritiana, I. pes-caprae) and Malvaceae (Hibiscus spp.) flowers. 

Lithurgus atratus 

Facial prominence absent; outer surface of the hind tibia without coarse tubercles; dorsal 
side of the abdomen in most species with coloured hair bands sometimes covering the 
whole segment; scopa with closely set hairs; morphologically and behaviuorally diverse 
bees; females cut pieces of leaves to line nest cells; solitary bees that nest in stems. 

Megachile ....5 

5. Terga T1-T5 or at least Tl and/or T2 entirely covered with either orange, white or 
ochraceous hairs; T2-T5 with or without narrow fascia. 

7 

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1) March 2008 



84 W.A.I.P. Karunaratne & J.P. Edirisinghe 

- T l o r 12 n o t e n t i r e l y c o v e r e d w i t h h a i r s ; t e r g a w i t h n a r r o w a p i c a l f a sc i a o f w h i t e o r 

o c h r a c e o u s ha i r s . 

6 

6. M i d d l e a n d p o s t e r i o r f e m o r a o r a n g e r e d ; p o l l e n b r u s h w h i t e ; s i d e s o f f ace , p r o n o t u m a n d 

s i d e s o f t h o r a x a n d n a r r o w t r a n s v e r s e fasc ia o n a p i c a l m a r g i n s o f a b d o m i n a l s e g m e n t s 1 -5 

w i t h s n o w - w h i t e p u b e s c e n c e ; f o u n d l a rge ly in t h e D r y Z o n e ; p r e f e r s m o s t l y f l o w e r s o f 

h e r b a c e o u s p l a n t s for p o l l e n a n d nec ta r . 

Megachile vigilans 

- L e g s b l a c k t o d a r k b r o w n ; p o l l e n b r u s h o r a n g e b r o w n ; b l a c k b e e s w i t h T 1 - T 5 f r inged 

w i t h s h o r t p l u m o s e h a i r s ; a b d o m e n c o r d i f o r m ; w i n g s h y a l i n e a n d i r i d e s c e n t t o w a r d s a p e x ; 

l a rge ly f o u n d in t h e D r y Z o n e o f t h e c o u n t r y ; p r e f e r s h e r b a c e o u s flowering p l a n t s for 

p o l l e n a n d n e c t a r ; n e s t s in b a m b o o s t e m s a n d in h o l l o w s o f s t e m s . 

Megachile hera 

7. T 2 - T 5 w i t h o u t a n a p i c a l fasc ia ; T l c o v e r e d w i t h w h i t e h a i r s 8 

- T 2 - T 5 w i t h a n a r r o w fasc ia o f w h i t e o r o c h r a c e o u s h a i r s 9 

8. S c o p a b r i g h t f u l v o u s ; t h o r a x a b o v e w i t h a s m o o t h c o a t o f b r o w n - b l a c k h a i r s ; w i n g s f u s c o -

h y a l i n e ; b o d y b l a c k ; a b d o m e n sho r t , t a p e r i n g p o s t e r i o r l y , a b o v e i r i d e s c e n t ; L a r g e l y f o u n d 

in t h e W e t ( P e r a d e n i y a ) a n d I n t e r m e d i a t e Z o n e s o f t h e c o u n t r y ; m o s t l y f o u n d o n flowers 

o f t h e f a m i l y F a b a c e a e . 

Megachile conjuncta 

- S c o p a b l a c k ; t h o r a x a b o v e w i t h a c o a t o f b l a c k h a i r s ; w i n g s h y a l i n e a t b a s e , fuscous 

t o w a r d s t h e a p e x w i t h p u r p l e e f f u l g e n c e ; b o d y b l a c k , f ace in f ront , s i d e s a n d v e n t r a l 

t h o r a x a n d l e g s o n o u t e r s i d e w i t h b l a c k p u b e s c e n c e ; p r o p o d e u m p o s t e r i o r l y c o v e r e d w i t h 

t h i c k l o n g w h i t e - r u s t y - y e l l o w p u b e s c e n c e ; l e g s f u s c o u s b l a c k ; l a rge ly f o u n d in the D r y 

Z o n e o n h e r b a c e o u s flowering p l a n t s . 

Megachile disjuncta 

9. W i n g s f u l v o u s ; s c o p a y e l l o w i s h w h i t e ; T l a n d T 2 t h i c k l y c o v e r e d w i t h r e d d i s h - b r o w n 

h a i r s ; b o d y b l a c k ; face in f ront c o v e r e d w i t h a t h i c k c o a t o f f u l v o u s p u b e s c e n c e ; t h o r a x 

a b o v e t h i c k l y c o v e r e d w i t h r e d d i s h - b r o w n h a i r s ; T l a n d T 2 t h i c k l y c o v e r e d w i t h r e d d i s h -

b r o w n h a i r s , r e m a i n d e r a p i c a l l y b a n d e d w i t h w h i t e h a i r s ; w i n g s f u l v o - h y a l i n e , f u s c e s c e n t 

a l o n g a p i c a l m a r g i n ; c o m m o n b e l o w 9 0 0 m e l e v a t i o n in al l t h r e e m a j o r z o n e s o f t h e 

c o u n t r y ; l a rge ly f o u n d o n flowers o f F a b a c e a e ; so l i t a ry b e e s t ha t n e s t in b a m b o o s t e m s 

a n d in h o l l o w s o f s t e m s . 

Megachile lanata 

- W i n g s h y a l i n e at b a s e f o l l o w e d b y a n o r a n g e b r o w n t in t t o e n d in d a r k f u s c o u s at t h e a p e x ; 

s c o p a w h i t e w i t h t h e t i p b l a c k ; b o d y b l a c k , f ace in f ront w i t h f u l v o u s b l a c k p u b e s c e n c e ; 

o n t h o r a x l a t e ra l ly c l o s e t o w i n g b a s e , s c u t e l l u m a b o v e s p a r s e l y a n d p r o p o d e u m la t e ra l ly 

w i t h o r a n g e - b r o w n h a i r s ; T l a n d T 2 w i t h a fasc ia o f d a r k - b r o w o r a n g e h a i r s ; f asc ia o n T 3 

n a r r o w e r a n d f u l v o u s ; T 4 a n d T 5 w i t h a n a r r o w w h i t e fasc ia ; v i s i t s h e r b a c e o u s flowers, 

c o m m o n in al l t h r e e m a j o r c l i m a t i c z o n e s o f t h e c o u n t r y ; n e s t s in h o l l o w s o f s t e m s . 

Megachile umbripennis 

March 2008 Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (I) 



Keys to the common bees of Sri Lanka 85 

Figure 8: Posteriorly produced Figure 9: Papillate apical half of Figure 10: Inverted T shaped 

scutellum forewing clypeus on face 

Figure 11a: Forwardly produced labium Figure l ib: Slighly protruding labrum Figure 12: Cleft claw on hind leg 
on face on face 

Figure 13: Slender base of basitarsus Figure 14: Single submarginal cell of Figure IS: Bluntly ending basitibial 
on hind leg forewing p l a t e o n h i n d l e g 

Figure 16: Apical tooth on basitibial Figure 17: Basitibial plate with 2 rows Figure 18: Basitibial plate with one row 
plate on hind leg of tubercles on each side of tubercles prominent 

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1) March 2008 



86 W.A.I.P. Karunaratne & J.P. Edirisinghe 

Figure 19: F o r e w i n g s h o w i n g m a r g i n a l Figure 20: F o r e w i n g s h o w i n g m a r g i n a l Figure 21a: C r o s s v e i n s o f f o r e w i n g 

a n d s u b m a r g i n a l c e l l s a n d s u b m a r g i n a l c e l l s 

Figure 27: F l a p - l i k e w h i t e ha i rs o n h i n d Figure 28: T w o p r o j e c t i n g t e e t h o n Figure 29: A p i c a l l y b e n t h i n d t i b i a l spur 

f e m u r s c u t e l l u r n w i t h s u b - a p i c a l t o o t h 

March 2008 Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (I) 



Keys to the common bees of Sri Lanka 87 

Figure 30: Pronotal carina medially notched Figure 31: Horizontal ridge beleow Figure 32: 'V- shaped carina on face 
antennal base 

Figure 33: Protruding axillae on thorax Figure 34: Tip of male abdomen with Figure 35: Mid facial prominence 
spines on face 

Figure 36: Hind tibia with coarse tubercles 

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1) March 2008 



88 W.A.I.P. Karunaratne & J.P. Edirisinghe 

List of species covered by the key 

Amegilla comberi Cockere l l 

Amegilla puttalama S t rand 

Amegilla violacea Lepele t ier 

Apis cerana Fabr ic ius 

Apis dorsata Fabr ic ius 

Apis florae Fabr ic ius 

Ausironomia krombeini H i r a s h i m a 

Austronomia notiomorpha H i r a s h i m a 

Braunsapis M i c h e n e r 

Ceratina binghami Cockere l l 

Ceratina heiroglyphica Smi th 

Coelioxys Latre i l le 

Curvinomia formosa (Smi th ) 

Euaspis edentate Bake r 

Halictus lucidipennis Latrei l le 

Heriades binghami C a m e r o n 

Hoplonomia westwoodi (Gr ibodo ) 

Lasioglossum alphenum ( C a m e r o n ) 

Lasioglossum amblypygus (S t rand) 

Lasioglossum aulacophorum (S t rand) 

Lasioglossum bidenlatum ( C a m e r o n ) 

Lasioglossum carnifrons ( C a m e r o n ) 

Lasioglossum serenum ( C a m e r o n ) 

Leuconomia Pau ly 

Lipotriches exagens (Walker ) 

Lipotriches fulvinerva ( C a m e r o n ) 

Lipotriches pulchrivenlns ( C a m e r o n ) 

Lipotriches edirisinghei (Pau ly) 

Lithurgus atratus Smi th 

Megachile conjuncta Smi th 

Megachile disjuncta Fabr ic ius 

Megachile hera B i n g h a m 

Megachile lanata Fabr ic ius 

Megachile umbripennis Smi th 

Megachile vigilans Smi th 

Nomia crassipes Fabr ic ius 

Patellapis kaluterae (Cockere l l ) 

Pseudapis oxybeloides (Smi th ) 

Sphecodes Latrei l le 

Steganomus nodicornis Smi th 

Tetralonia Sp ino la 

Thyreus P a n z e r 

Trigona iridipennis Smi th 

Xylocopa amethystine Fabr ic ius 

Xylocopa fenestrate (Fabr ic ius) 

Xylocopa tenuiscapa W e s t w o o d 

Xylocopa ruficornis Fabr ic ius 

Acknowledgement 

The authors gratefully acknowledge Drs. S.W.T. Batra 
(formerly of the USDA, Beltsville.), B.B. Norden 
(formerly of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 
USA) for initiating and encouraging bee research in 
Sri Lanka. Drs. Alain Pauly (Department Entomologie, 
Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Rue-
Vautier 29, Belgium) and M. Terzo (FRNS Scientific 
Researcher, University of Mons-Hainaut, Belgium) are 
gratefully acknowledged for identifying Nomiinae bees 
and Ceratina species respectively. The Director General, 
Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Conservator 
General of the Forest Department are acknowledged 
for granting permission to collect bees from field sites 
coming under their purview and for issuing permits 
to send specimens to abroad for identification. Field 
assistance provided by Mr. C.M.B.S. Chandrasekara and 
Mr. R.M.N. Ratnayake is gratefully appreciated. The 
study was funded by a research grant from the Natioanl 
Science Foundation of Sri Lanka awarded to the second 
author. 

R e f e r e n c e s 

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Cont inen ta l A s i a and Sri L a n k a ( H y m e n o p t e r a , Ap idae ) , 
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Series VI, Z o o l o g y 21(2): 165-247. 

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the v ic ini ty II. Nesohalictus ( H y m e n o p t e r a : Hal ic t idae) . 
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Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36(1) March 2008