Leioproctus cardaleae, or Leioproctus (Odontocolletes) cardaleae, is a species of bee in the family Colletidae and subfamily Colletinae. It is endemic to Australia. It was described by Australian entomologist Glynn Maynard in 1997.
Etymology The specific epithet cardaleae honours entomologist Josephine Cardale, who collected many specimens.
Description Female body length is 8 mm, male body length 7 mm. Integumental colouration is mainly black, with a distinctive, broad orange band on the metasoma. The hair is mostly white.
Distribution and habitat The species occurs in arid central and eastern inland Australia. The type locality is 32 km south-east of Alice Springs, in the south of the Northern Territory. It has also been recorded from Welbourne Hill Station in northern South Australia and from near Charleville, Queensland.
Behaviour The adults are flying mellivores. Flowering plants visited by the bees include Podolepis canescens, Scaevola depauperata and Trachymene glaucifolia, as well as Wahlenbergia species.
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