Megachile aurifrons

    Red-eyed Bee or Golden-browed Resin Bee

Size
female 12 mm; male 10 mm

Identifying Characteristics
Females have bright red eyes while the eyes of males are milky with red tints. Unfortunately museum specimens rapidly lose the eye colour. The male fore tarsus (foot) is expanded and the distinctive spot is presumed to be a signal to the female during mating.

Distinctive Features
The snout-like projection from the female clypeus is unlike that in any other species. They are also the only females in the area with bright orange hair on the face and white hair on the tip of the abdomen. The eye colour, combined with the expanded fore tarsus distinguishes males from all other species.

Flower Visiting Records
Frequently found on Eucalytpus species but also on

Acacia sp.	Angophora floribunda	Atalaya hemiglauca
Calytrix exstipulata	Dampiera sp.	Dillwynia spp.
Jacksonia sternbergiana	Kunzea parvifolia	Melaleuca sp.
Pultenaea spp.	Swainsona spp.

Taxonomy

Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Megachilidae
Genus:	Megachile
Subgenus:
Species:	aurifrons