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Bees of Zihuatanejo

EPIFAMILY ANTHOPHILA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-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)​

-Tribe Exomalopsini

-Genus Exomalopsis


These bees are known for nesting in the ground, often choosing sandy or loose soils where they can easily excavate tunnels. Some species may also use abandoned burrows of other insects or hollow stems. Exomalopsis bees have robust, stout bodies with broad heads and relatively short antennae, which are adaptations for their specific foraging habits. They ar are effective pollinators, visiting a wide variety of flowering plants for nectar and pollen.



Exomalopsis Bees

Exomalopsis (Genus)

Range

  • The genus Exomalopsis is distributed from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and throughout much of South America to Argentina.

  • Numerous species occur throughout Mexico, including the Pacific coast of Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region.

  • Most species are found in tropical and subtropical habitats.

Habitat

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, grasslands, woodland edges, thorn scrub, secondary forests, orchards, gardens, and agricultural fields.

  • Most species nest in well-drained soil, often in open, sunny areas with sparse vegetation.

  • Adults are commonly found visiting flowering plants throughout the growing season.

Behaviour

  • Solitary, with each female excavating and provisioning her own underground nest.

  • Active during the day, collecting pollen and nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants.

  • Some species form loose nesting aggregations, where many females nest close together while maintaining separate nests.

  • Generally docile and unlikely to sting unless directly handled.

Size

  • Body length: 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in)

  • Females are typically larger and more densely hairy than males.

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