Anthophora is a large genus of solitary bees in the family Apidae. According to the most recent taxonomic compilations (e.g., the Integrated Taxonomic Information System [ITIS] and the World Bee Checklist), the genus contains more than 400 recognized species distributed throughout the Holarctic region and parts of the Afrotropical zone.
A non‑exhaustive selection of species that are commonly cited in the scientific literature and appear in major entomological databases includes:
| Subgenus (if assigned) | Species epithet | Author & Year | Notable distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthophora (nominate) | plumipes | (Kirby, 1802) | Europe, North Africa, western Asia |
| — | abrupta | (Cresson, 1864) | eastern United States |
| — | affinis | (Morawitz, 1865) | Central Asia |
| — | alpinicola | (Cresson, 1864) | Rocky Mountains (USA) |
| — | maxima | (Cresson, 1864) | western United States |
| — | tibialis | (Cresson, 1864) | eastern United States |
| — | niger | (Lepeletier, 1841) | Mediterranean region |
| — | rosa | (Cresson, 1864) | eastern United States |
| — | urbanus | (Cresson, 1864) | eastern United States |
| Callanthophora | cicindela | (Cresson, 1864) | western United States |
| — | louisi | (Cresson, 1864) | southeastern United States |
| Macroanthophora | coerulea | (Cresson, 1864) | southwestern United States |
| — | cyrtiflua | (Cresson, 1864) | western United States |
| Syntypanthophora | fulvacristata | (Cresson, 1864) | eastern United States |
| — | vannah | (Cresson, 1864) | eastern United States |
Key points
- The genus is taxonomically complex; many species have been moved between subgenera or synonymized as new phylogenetic studies emerge.
- Several regional checklists (e.g., “Bees of North America” and “European Bees” publications) provide more detailed species accounts, including diagnostic characters and ecological notes.
- For a complete and up‑to‑date enumeration, consult the Wikipedia article “List of Anthophora species”, the ITIS database (TSN 766327), or the most recent version of the World Bee Checklist (2023).
References
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Anthophora Latreille, 1802. TSN 766327. Accessed July 2026.
- Ascher, J.S., & Pickering, J. (2023). Discover Life bee species guide and world checklist (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila).
- Wikipedia contributors. “List of Anthophora species.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed July 2026.
Note: The above table lists a representative subset of species; the full list comprises several hundred taxa and is best consulted in the cited comprehensive sources.
