| Anthidium scudderi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Megachilidae |
| Genus: | Anthidium |
| Species: | †A. scudderi |
| Binomial name | |
| †Anthidium scudderi Cockerell, 1906 | |
Anthidium scudderi is anextinctspecies ofmason bee in theMegachilidae genusAnthidium.[1] The species is solely known from thelate Eocene,Chadronian stage,[2]Florissant Formation deposits inFlorissant, Colorado, USA.[1]Anthidium scudderi is one of only four extinct species of mason bees known from thefossil record, and withAnthidium exhumatum, one of two species from the Florissant Formation.[1]
The species is known only a single fossil, the holotype, number "No. 2002", is a single specimen of indeterminate genus, originally part of theSamuel Hubbard Scudder collection as specimen "No. 11381". The additional specimen, along with the threeA. exhumatum fossils are currently residing in theMuseum of Comparative Zoologypaleoentomology collections atHarvard University.[1]A. scudderi was first studied byTheodore Cockerell with his 1906type description being published in the journalBulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology.[1] The specific epithet "scudderi" was coined by Theodore Cockerell in honor of Samuel Scudder who collected the specimens at Florissant.
The holotype ofAnthidium scudderi, while incomplete, is approximately 15 millimetres (0.59 in) in length but is missing up to 5 millimetres (0.20 in) of the abdomen tip.[1] The body length and width is noted to probably be larger than in life due to crushing during fossilization. Both the head and thorax are black with possible light patterning, with a large lighter patch on the vertex, the clypeus mostly light, and themesothorax with two possible light stripes. Though not definitive the light stripes may have been a reddish. The abdomen in contrast is light in tone, possibly yellow in life, with the posterior edges of each segment darkening into a distinct stripe.[1] There are indications of a possible subbasal band running along the abdomen in the subdorsal region. Due to preservation the antennae and legs are not visible in the specimen. The general coloration is similar to the modernAnthidium bernardinum, now a jr synonym ofAnthidium placitum. The dark colored forewings ofA. scudderi are 8 millimetres (0.31 in) in length and notably hairy in the basal region. Themarginal cell of the wing is larger than in the relatedAnthidium exhumatum. Given the overall coloration and structure of the wings, bothA. scudderi andA. exhumatum have been placed in the genusAnthidium.[1]