Xylocopa (Xylocopa) violacea (L., 1758) *

Distribution: PALAEARCTIC: Widespread across Europe, scattered records from North Africa and further east in the Mediterranean to Tajikistan. (Terzo & Rasmont 2014, Ascher & Pickering 2021).

Local distribution fig. 15.8

Material examined. Abundant and widespread.

Specimens with no label from AUB and USEK collection, 6♀.

Beirut: AUB Campus, 19.III, 1♂, leg. Mulugeta; AUB Campus, 5.V.1980, 2♀, 1♂ leg. Charles Z.; Kohar B., Alice

R., all coll. AUB.

Mount Lebanon: Fanar, V.1971, 1♀, leg. Traboulsi R., coll. USEK. Additional 19♀ and 7♂, from 21 records, collected between V.1986 and 7.VIII.2019 from Choueifat, Jbeil, Daraya, Mtein, Beit Chabab, Keserwan, Hboub, Beit Chabab, Mastita, Bakish, Gharzouz, Ehmej, Maaniye, Mansourieh, Maaser Al Chouf, and Barouk.

N. Lebanon: Horch Ehden, VI.2014, 1♀, leg. Boustani C., Boustani M., coll. MBOU. Additional 31♀ and 46♂ from 40 records, collected between 20.VI.2016 and 23.VIII.2019, from Arz Bcharre, Tannourine El Tahta, Jord Tannourine, Bcharre, and Horch Ehden.

S. Lebanon: Saida, IV, 1♀, leg. Chamaa O., coll. USEK; Saidoun, 25.III.2018, 1♀, leg. Baghdadi A., coll. SOILS. Flower records. Asphodelaceae: Asphodelus microcarpus; Asteraceae: Cousinia libanotica, Echinops gaillardotii, Echinops viscosus, Onopordum heteracanthum, Boraginaceae: Anchusa hybrida, Solenanthus stamineus; Caprifoliaceae: Cephalaria stellipilis; Fabaceae: Astragalus angustifolius, Colutea cilicica, Coronilla emeroides; Lamiaceae: Eremostachys laciniata, Phlomis chrysophylla, Salvia microstegia, Stachys cretica, Stachys ehrenbergii; Malvaceae: Alcea apterocarpa; Rosaceae: Cotoneaster sp., Prunus sp.

Terzo (2021) reports a preference for Fabaceae and Lamiaceae, both observed in our records above along with other families.

CERATINI

Genus Ceratina Latreille, 1802

17 species.