Biological notes on Anthophora urbana urbana and its parasite, Xeromelecta californica (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae), including descriptions of late embryogenesis and hatching

Biologies of three populations of A. u. urbana Cresson are described and compared. Notes on parasites are included and biology of the cleptoparasitic bee X. californica (Cresson) is described. Late embryogenesis and hatching of both species are described in detail. Quantitative data are presented on rates of Xeromelecta parasitism and their effect on sex ratio of the host species. Interrelationships of egg deposition, embryogenesis, and methods of hatching are described for both bee species. Pupal characteristics of Xeromelecta are compared with those of other melectine bees and representatives of other bee taxa to show, for the first time, relationships between structures peculiar to the pupal stage and their functions. Facultative cocoon spinning by Xeromelecta larvae is noted.