Mellitidia tomentifera
Recently I posted a photo of one of these golden beauties on social media and discovered a far more enchanting common name than Australian Mellitidia. Apparently some in its restricted range in Far North Queensland call them “Smileys”. Can you see why?
It’s that patterning on the thorax! The two triangles of black are the “eyes” and the smile shaped line below is the “mouth”.
This little known bee is the only one of its genus found in Australia and I have observed them on the following flowers in my garden:
- Native Raspberry (Rubus probus)
- Blue Tongue Plant (Melastoma malabithricum) – see video below
- Perennial Basil (Ocimum killmanscharicum x basilicum)
- Grumichama (Eugenia brasiliensis)
- Grasses in my lawn
Have you seen them on any other flower species? Let me know in the comments!
If you’re interested, here’s another post on the Smileys.
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Jane Grows Garden Rooms 