Hoplitis (Alcidamea) leucomelana (Kirby, 1802)

Polylectic: In Germany, it visits Picris hieracioides (Asteraceae); Sedum reflexum (Crassulaceae); Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Trifolium dubium, Melilotus alba, Melilotus officinalis, Lathyrus sylvestris, Lathyrus tuberosus (Fabaceae); Origanum vulgare (Lamiaceae); Lythrum salicaria (Lythraceae) and Rubus fruticosus (Rosaceae)(Westrich, 1989). Banaszak & Romasenko (1998) (copied by Stanisavljevic; 2000) also state that the species is polylectic, but with a preference for species of Fabaceae (Lotus, Medicago, Trifolium, Astragalus and Genista) and Lamiaceae (Thymus and Salvia).

Flowers visited in GB (Else & Edwards, 2018): Kirby’s Suffolk specimen was collected from Leontodon (Asteraceae).

Banaszak & Romasenko (1989) state that although the species is polylectic, it shows a preference for Lotus, Medicago, Trifolium, Astragalus & Genista (Fabaceae) and also Thymus & Salvia (Lamiaceae).

Pawlikowski & Kruszynski (1997) list Medicago falcata (Fabaceae) as a nectar source in Poland.

Monsevicius (2004) lists Trifolium hybridum (Fabaceae) as a forage source in Lithuania.

Vereecken (in litt., 2007) reports foraging at Lotus corniculatus maritimus (Fabaceae).

Other flower records for this species are provided by F.K. Stöckhert (1933) and van der Zanden (1982).

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