rediviva

Rediviva is a genus of bees in the family Melittidae, native to the Afrotropical region, with most species concentrated in southern Africa.

Taxonomy and morphology: Rediviva comprises numerous species. Members are generally small to medium-sized, solitary bees. A distinctive feature is the extreme variation in tongue length among species, with some displaying exceptionally long proboscises adapted for extracting nectar from flowers with long corollas.

Ecology and behavior: Rediviva bees are solitary nesters. Females construct brood cells in soil or in pre-existing cavities and provision them with pollen and nectar for larval development. Foraging involves visiting tubular flowers, and long-tongued species can influence plant–pollinator interactions in Afrotropical plant communities.

Distribution and habitat: They inhabit a range of Afrotropical habitats, including grasslands, woodlands and coastal environments, with species richness greatest in southern Africa.

Conservation: As native pollinators, Rediviva species contribute to plant reproduction. They face pressures from habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change, though detailed conservation assessments exist only for a subset of species.