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Subgenus Melissodes
Long-horned Bees are hairy bees, typically with pale hair bands on the metasoma. Males typically have very long antennae. This species comes from Tribe Eucerini. (( http://bugguide.net/node/view/8019 )) According to the site linked from bug guide, "two distinguishing characteristics are the following: the Eucerini have long paraglossae [lobes at the outer edges of the tip of the lower mouthparts] that reach the base of the labial palpus. They also have parocular carina [ridges on the outside portion of the eye area].
Nesting is in the ground for all species. Known nests are vertical burrows in flat ground. The Subgenus Melissodes' (( http://bugguide.net/node/view/173572 ))range is New World (BC to Brazil); in our area, all 11 spp. occur in the US and one ranges into sw. Canada (M. communis)
Spotted on Aug 9, 2012
Submitted on Aug 10, 2012
4 Comments
Hello JaunDi! I really do appreciate your help on all of these ID's and hate to bother you about it. However, I am positive that you know your Bees, but the spelling is bringing up no results. I tried it with an f too and nothing. Can you give me a couple of other possible spellings to search? Thank you ")
Hi nexttogone. This is not a honey bee, is an Antophorid male bee
Thank you, Maria. I almost mistook this for a Western Honey Bee. I was a bit fond of the pose and didn't want to trash it.
nice one!