Systropha planidens

Systropha planidens is an oligolectic bee, meaning females collect pollen exclusively from plants in the family Convolvulaceae, particularly bindweed (Convolvulus and related genera). This dietary specialization restricts the bee's range to areas where its host plants are abundant.

Systropha planidens is a solitary bee in the family Halictidae, meaning each female constructs and provisions her own nest without a queen-worker caste system. Unlike honeybees or bumblebees, there is no cooperative division of labor among adults.

Systropha planidens is native to the Old World, with a distribution spanning parts of Europe, the Middle East, and potentially North Africa. It nests in the ground, typically in sandy or well-drained soils in open habitats where bindweed grows.

Female Systropha planidens have evolved specialized pollen-collecting structures and behaviors adapted specifically to the flowers of Convolvulaceae. This oligolecty ensures efficient foraging but makes the species vulnerable to declines in its host plant populations due to agriculture or habitat loss.