Apis quadrifasciata, VILLERS, 1789

Description of Apis quadrifasciata View in CoL by VILLERS (1789)

VILLERS (1789) published the description of Ap. quadrifasciata in the third volume of 'Caroli Linnaei Entomologia' on pages 309-310 ( Fig. 2 View Figs 2 ). He gave this species the Latin name ' Quadrifasciata ' ('four-banded') due to the end-banding of the tergites, supplemented in brackets with the French name 'la quadrifascié'. The black cuticular colouration, the reddish pubescence of the thorax and the white abdominal bands are mentioned as a brief characterisation; the detailed description (desc. = latin abbreviation for 'descriptio') characterises the species as larger than Ap. mellifica , with a black and hairy abdomen, with dense white hair bands, a white pubescence of the legs and a strong white pubescence of the hind legs. The colouration of the metatarsus hairs is not clear from the species description. He listed the type locality of this species as 'Gallia Australiori' (southern part of France).