?Morphological specialisation for primary nectar robbing in a pollen specialist mining bee (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae)

The European mining bee species Andrena lathyri (Andrenidae) is a narrow specialist of flowers Lathyrus and Vicia (Fabaceae), from which both females males gain nectar by primary robbing. Both sexes are equipped with unique proboscis, much longer more strongly angled than in most other bees including the closely related species. comparison between shape proboscis interior host combined field observations revealed that specialised mouthparts A. precisely correspond to dimensions flower position nectary, representing one few known examples morphological adaptation robbing bees. For uptake, bee’s head inserted laterally under standard petal before it moved towards base, thereby slitting calyx longitudinally depth necessary reach nectary inside proboscis. Nectar-robbing individuals able adapt their behaviour different lengths over varying distances. Except for slit calyx, does not damage any parts allowing normal fruit development.