Bingham’s Sweat Bee (Patellapis binghami)
This species was described in 1900; it was endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
The bee reached a length of about 5.5 cm and a wingspan of about 1.1 cm; the head and the thorax are glossy black, sometimes with a very faint greenish tint, very finely punctured; the abdomen is shining black; the wings are iridescent hyaline with an yellowish-brown neuration. [1]
Bingham’s Sweat Bee was last recorded in 1968; it was never found despite considerable dedicated efforts. [2]
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syn. Halictus binghami Kirby
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(public domain)
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References:
[1] Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London: printed by order of the Trustees 1900
[2] D. J. James; P. T. Green; W. F. Humphreys; J. C. Z. Woinarski: Endemic species of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Records of the Western Australian Museum 34: 55-114. 2019
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edited: 13.02.2024