Plebeina armata, the mopane bee or mopane fly, is a very small gnat-like stingless bee species native to Africa, and the only member of its genus. It lives in savannah of Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroun, D.R. Congo (Shaba), Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia.[2]
| Plebeina armata | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Genus: | Plebeina Moure, 1961 |
| Species: | P. armata
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| Binomial name | |
| Plebeina armata | |
| Synonyms | |
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It congregates about the moist tissue of the eyes, nose and mouth to find water in the dry environment where it lives, and is therefore sometimes called a "sweat bee". It is active only during the day and retreats at night. It also has the ability to produce a dark and strong honey.
References edit
- ^ Magretti, P. (1895). "Imenotteri". Annali del Museo civico di storia naturale di Genova. 2. 35: 154–156.
- ^ Plebeina armata on www.atlashymenoptera.net (French)
External links edit
Wikispecies has information related to Plebeina armata.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plebeina armata.
"Plebeina armata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.