Melittinae is a small melittid subfamily, with some 60 species in four genera, restricted to Africa and the northern temperate zone. They are typically small to moderate-sized bees, which often have shaggy scopae, and are commonly oligolectic; several species further specialize on floral oils as larval food rather than pollen, including Rediviva emdeorum, a highly unusual species in which the forelegs are longer than the entire body, and used to sponge up the floral oil at the end of elongated corolla spurs of the host plant, Diascia.[1]
The Melittinae are known from a fossil of Palaeomacropis eocenicus in the Early Eocene of Oise, France.[2]
ReferencesEdit
^C. D. Michener (2000) The Bees of the World, Johns Hopkins University Press.
^Michez, Denis; Nel, Andre; Menier, Jean-Jacques; Rasmont, Pierre (2007). "The oldest fossil of a melittid bee (Hymenoptera: Apiformes) from the early Eocene of Oise (France)" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 150 (4): 701–709. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00307.x.
External linksEdit
Online guides to eastern North American Melittidae
Bugguide.net
Michez, Patini, Danforth. Phylogeny of the Bee Family Melittidae
August 31, 2023
melittinae, small, melittid, subfamily, with, some, species, four, genera, restricted, africa, northern, temperate, zone, they, typically, small, moderate, sized, bees, which, often, have, shaggy, scopae, commonly, oligolectic, several, species, further, speci. Melittinae is a small melittid subfamily with some 60 species in four genera restricted to Africa and the northern temperate zone They are typically small to moderate sized bees which often have shaggy scopae and are commonly oligolectic several species further specialize on floral oils as larval food rather than pollen including Rediviva emdeorum a highly unusual species in which the forelegs are longer than the entire body and used to sponge up the floral oil at the end of elongated corolla spurs of the host plant Diascia 1 MelittinaeMelitta maura femaleScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder HymenopteraFamily MelittidaeSubfamily MelittinaeGeneraMacropisMelittaRedivivaRedivivoidesThe Melittinae are known from a fossil of Palaeomacropis eocenicus in the Early Eocene of Oise France 2 References Edit C D Michener 2000 The Bees of the World Johns Hopkins University Press Michez Denis Nel Andre Menier Jean Jacques Rasmont Pierre 2007 The oldest fossil of a melittid bee Hymenoptera Apiformes from the early Eocene of Oise France PDF Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 150 4 701 709 doi 10 1111 j 1096 3642 2007 00307 x External links EditOnline guides to eastern North American Melittidae Bugguide net Michez Patini Danforth Phylogeny of the Bee Family Melittidae Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melittinae amp oldid 1032180181, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
