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””’Melissodes””’ is a the second largest genus of [[Eucerini|”’long-horned bees”’]]. ”Melissodes” currently consists of |
””’Melissodes””’ is a the second largest genus of [[Eucerini|”’long-horned bees”’]]. ”Melissodes” currently consists of described species, all native to the Americas, from Canada in the North to Argentina in the South (though less common in the tropics) |
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The females of most species are either polylectic (collect pollen from a variety of plant species) or oligolectic (collect pollen from a narrow set of closely related plant species) on [[Asteraceae]]. ”Melissodes” are important crop pollinators, particularly on [[Common sunflower|sunflower]], but they have also been observed on canola, cantaloupe, watermelon, cotton, coffee, and alfalfa.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite journal |last=Wright |first=Karen W. |last2=Miller |first2=Kelly B. |last3=Song |first3=Hojun |date=2020-08-25 |title=A molecular phylogeny of the long-horned bees in the genus Melissodes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Eucerinae) |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/ise/52/4/article-p428_428.xml |journal=Insect Systematics & Evolution |volume=52 |issue=4 |pages=428–443 |doi=10.1163/1876312X-bja10015 |issn=1399-560X}}</ref> |
The females of most species are either polylectic (collect pollen from a variety of plant species) or oligolectic (collect pollen from a narrow set of closely related plant species) on [[Asteraceae]]. ”Melissodes” are important crop pollinators, particularly on [[Common sunflower|sunflower]], but they have also been observed on canola, cantaloupe, watermelon, cotton, coffee, and alfalfa.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite journal |last=Wright |first=Karen W. |last2=Miller |first2=Kelly B. |last3=Song |first3=Hojun |date=2020-08-25 |title=A molecular phylogeny of the long-horned bees in the genus Melissodes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Eucerinae) |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/ise/52/4/article-p428_428.xml |journal=Insect Systematics & Evolution |volume=52 |issue=4 |pages=428–443 |doi=10.1163/1876312X-bja10015 |issn=1399-560X}}</ref> |
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=== Life Cycle and Nesting Behavior === |
=== Life Cycle and Nesting Behavior === |
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Females are known to be both solitary and gregarious nesters – either |
Females are known to be both solitary and gregarious nesters – either with <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Buchmann |first=Stephen |date=July 1980 |title=OBSERVATIONS ON THE NESTING BIOLOGY OF MELISSODES PERSIMILIS CKLL. (HYMENOPTERA: ANTHOPHORIDAE) |url=https://archive.org/details/biostor-244441/biostor-244441 |journal=Pan-Pacific Entomologist |volume=56 |issue=3 |pages=200-206}}</ref> , <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Parker |first=F. D. |last2=Tepedino |first2=V. J. |last3=Bohart |first3=G. E. |date=1981 |title=Notes on the Biology of a Common Sunflower Bee, Melissodes (Eumelissodes) agilis Cresson |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25009235 |journal=Journal of the New York Entomological Society |volume=89 |issue=1 |pages=43–52 |issn=0028-7199}}</ref>. of . |
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”[[Triepeolus]]”<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Custer |first=Clarence P. |date=1928 |title=ON THE NESTING HABITS OF MELISSODES LATR. (HYMENOP.) |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0008347X00065743/type/journal_article |journal=The Canadian Entomologist |language=en |volume=60 |issue=2 |pages=28–31 |doi=10.4039/Ent6028-2 |issn=0008-347X}}</ref><ref name=”:1″ /> |
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== Species == |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Latest revision as of 03:07, 30 October 2025
Melissodes is a the second largest genus of long-horned bees. Melissodes currently consists of 143 described species, all native to the Americas, from Canada in the North to Argentina in the South (though less common in the tropics)
The females of most species are either polylectic (collect pollen from a variety of plant species) or oligolectic (collect pollen from a narrow set of closely related plant species) on Asteraceae. Melissodes are important crop pollinators, particularly on sunflower, but they have also been observed on canola, cantaloupe, watermelon, cotton, coffee, and alfalfa.[1]
Taxonomy and Phylogeny
[edit]
Melissodes is a genus insects in the tribe Eucerini (long-horned bees), believed to be sister to Svastra due to numerous morphological synapomorphies and increasing molecular evidence[1]. As such, they are a member of the largest family of bees, Apidae, and the order Hymenoptera. Eight subgenera were originally recognized by Wallace E. LeBerge based on morphological characters: Eumelissodes, Melissodes s.s., Ecplectica, Tachymelissodes, Psilomelissodes, Heliomelissodes, Apomelissodes, and Callimelissodes[2].
Species in this genus are medium sized bees, usually with relatively dense, long hairs on the mesosoma/thorax and pale hair bands along the metasoma (although some species differ, as in Melissodes bimaculatus). Most species of males have exceptionally long antennae that extend well beyond the back of their head, like other long-horned bees. Melissodes can be difficult to distinguish from other related genera by morphological features alone; although a characteristic feature to bees in this genus are anteriorly narrowed tegulae[3]. Species can be particularly difficult to distinguish from one another.
Life Cycle and Nesting Behavior
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Females are known to be both solitary and gregarious nesters. Aggregations can house thousands of individuals across hundreds of nest entrances. Melissodes aggregations have been most commonly observed in areas with sandy, exposed soil[4]. Nests can either be composed of a burrow with a single cell, as in M. persimilis[5], or having a number of brood cells per burrow, as in M. agilis[6]. Adult males frequently emerge from the nests prior to the emergence of females each year.
- ^ a b Wright, Karen W.; Miller, Kelly B.; Song, Hojun (2020-08-25). “A molecular phylogeny of the long-horned bees in the genus Melissodes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Eucerinae)”. Insect Systematics & Evolution. 52 (4): 428–443. doi:10.1163/1876312X-bja10015. ISSN 1399-560X.
- ^ LaBerge, Wallace Edmund (1961-12-29). “A revision of the bees of the genus Melissodes in North and Central America. Part III (Hymenoptera, Apidae)”. The University of Kansas science bulletin. 42 (5): 283–663. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.9821. ISSN 0022-8850.
- ^ Michener, Charles D.; McGinley, Ronald J.; Danforth, Bryan N. (1994). The bee genera of North and Central America (Hymenoptera:Apoidea). Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 978-1-56098-256-2.
- ^ a b Giulian, Joseph; Danforth, Bryan N.; Kueneman, Jordan G. (2024-10-04). “A Large Aggregation of Melissodes bimaculatus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Offers Perspectives on Gregarious Nesting and Pollination Services”. Northeastern Naturalist. 31 (3). doi:10.1656/045.031.0314. ISSN 1092-6194.
- ^ Buchmann, Stephen (July 1980). “OBSERVATIONS ON THE NESTING BIOLOGY OF MELISSODES PERSIMILIS CKLL. (HYMENOPTERA: ANTHOPHORIDAE)”. Pan-Pacific Entomologist. 56 (3): 200–206.
- ^ Parker, F. D.; Tepedino, V. J.; Bohart, G. E. (1981). “Notes on the Biology of a Common Sunflower Bee, Melissodes (Eumelissodes) agilis Cresson”. Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 89 (1): 43–52. ISSN 0028-7199.
- ^ Custer, Clarence P. (1928). “ON THE NESTING HABITS OF MELISSODES LATR. (HYMENOP.)”. The Canadian Entomologist. 60 (2): 28–31. doi:10.4039/Ent6028-2. ISSN 0008-347X.
