Bees of Zihuatanejo

EPIFAMILY ANTHOPHILA

-Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera)

-Narrow-waisted Wasps, Ants, and Bees (Suborder Apocrita)

-Ants, Bees, and Stinging Wasps (Infraorder Aculeata)

-Bees and Apoid Wasps (Superfamily Apoidea)

-Bees (Epifamily Anthophila)

-Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, and Allies (Family Apidae)

-Apine Bees (Subfamily Apinae)

-Orchid Bees (Tribe Euglossini)

-Genus Eulaema

-Eulaema polychroma

Large bodied bees resembling bumble bees. They collect nectar, pollen, and nest building materials such as mud, resin, and fecal matter to provision their young and build nests.

Range

Native to Mexico and Central America.
In Mexico, it occurs along the Pacific slope, including Guerrero, as well as parts of southern Mexico.
Found throughout suitable habitats in the Zihuatanejo region, extending south through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Habitat

Inhabits tropical dry forests, tropical semi-deciduous forests, tropical rainforests, woodland edges, secondary forests, orchards, and flowering gardens.
Females typically nest in tree cavities, hollow logs, abandoned burrows, or other sheltered cavities, constructing brood cells from wax, resin, and plant fibres.
Adults are most abundant in areas with a rich diversity of flowering plants.

Behaviour

Solitary, with each female building and provisioning her own nest.
Active during the day, visiting flowers to collect nectar and pollen.
Males gather fragrant compounds from orchids and many other flowers, storing them in specialized hind-leg chambers.
These perfumes are released during courtship displays to attract females.
Strong, fast fliers capable of travelling several kilometres while foraging.

Size