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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)​

-Longhorn Bees (Tribe Eucerini)​

-Genus Melissoptila


Melissoptila is a genus within the tribe Eucerini, commonly known as long-horned bees due to the notably elongated antennae of the males. This genus is part of the family Apidae and comprises species primarily distributed in the Neotropical region, including parts of South and Central America. Melissoptila bees are solitary ground nesters. Females excavate nests in the soil, creating individual brood cells where they deposit eggs along with a supply of pollen and nectar to nourish the developing larvae.



Melissoptila Longhorn Bees

Melissoptila (Genus)

Range

  • The genus Melissoptila is distributed from Mexico through Central America and throughout much of South America to Argentina.

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

  • Greatest diversity occurs in tropical and subtropical regions.

Habitat

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

  • Females nest in well-drained soil, usually in sunny areas with sparse vegetation.

  • Adults are commonly found visiting flowering plants in open habitats and forest clearings.

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.

  • Males have exceptionally long antennae, which they use to locate receptive females by detecting pheromones.

  • Females carry pollen on dense brushes of hairs (scopae) on their hind legs.

  • Generally docile and rarely sting unless directly handled.

Size

  • Body length: 8–16 mm (0.3–0.6 in)

  • Females are generally more robust than males.

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