Melitta (Melitta) tricincta Kirby, 1802

The majority of authors consider the species to be narrowly oligolectic on Odontites vernus and Orthanta lutea (Orobanchaceae)(Celary, 2005).

Pekkarinen (1998) lists Odontites (Orobanchaceae) as the pollen source in Sweden.

Celary (2005) states that in Poland the bee mainly visits Odontites vernus (as O. serotina Dumort.), although there are occasional records of nectar foraging from Lotus corniculatus, Medicago media (Fabaceae), Mentha aquatica (Lamiaceae), Succisa pratensis (Dipsacaceae)(Bluthgen, 1919) and Trifolium pratense (Ruszkowski et al., 1988).

In Hungary, the species is reported to visit Carduus acanthoides, Centaurea, Inula britannica (Asteraceae); Daucus carota (Apiaceae); Hyssopus officinalis, Stachys palustris (Lamiaceae); Medicago sativa (Fabaceae)(Ruszkowski et al., 1988).

It has been observed collecting pollen at Odontites luteus (Orobanchaceae) http://www.flickr.com/photos/nico_bees_wasps/7894270450/in/photostream/

In Lithuania, there are records of visits to Galeopsis tetrahit (Lamiaceae); Trifolium repens (Fabaceae); Scabiosa ochroleuca (Dipsacaceae)(Monsevicius, 1995).

Occasionally, Melitta tricincta gathers nectar at Ononis repens (Fabaceae)in GB (Edwards, 1998),and Mentha aquatica (Lamiaceae)(pers. obs.)

Other authors (listed in Michez (2004)) cite the following plants, presumably as nectar sources: Daucus carota (Apiaceae); Carduus acanthoides, Centaurea sp., Inula britannica (Asteraceae); Lotus corniculatus, Lotus creticus, Medicago sativa (Fabaceae); Stachys palustris, Hyssopus officinalis (Lamiaceae); Lythrum salicaria (Lythraceae).

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