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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 Tapinotaspidini

-Genus Paratetrapedia


Paratetrapedia bees are generally small to medium-sized when compared to other carpenter bees. Members of this genus often feature a combination of black and yellow or orange markings, which can vary by species. These bees are known to be effective pollinators, visiting various flowering plants. Paratetrapedia bees are mostly solitary. Each female usually builds her own nest and is responsible for provisioning it.



Paratetrapedia Bees

Paratetrapedia (Genus)

Range

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

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

  • Greatest diversity occurs in tropical and subtropical forests.

Habitat

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, woodland edges, secondary forests, orchards, gardens, and forest clearings.

  • Females usually nest in pre-existing cavities, such as hollow twigs, abandoned beetle burrows, dead stems, and small holes in wood.

  • Adults are commonly found in areas rich in flowering plants.

Behaviour

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

  • Active during the day, collecting pollen, nectar, and floral oils from specialized flowers.

  • Floral oils are gathered using specialized hairs on the legs and are used to provision larvae and line brood cells.

  • Important pollinators of many tropical plants, particularly species in the Malpighiaceae family.

  • Generally docile and rarely sting unless handled.

Size

  • Body length: 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in)

  • Females are usually slightly larger than males.


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