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.