Euglossini

Definition

A tribe of corbiculate bees in the subfamily Apinae, commonly called orchid bees or euglossine bees, comprising approximately 200 species in five genera. Unlike other corbiculate groups (honey bees, bumble bees, stingless bees), non-parasitic members of Euglossini are predominantly solitary or communal rather than eusocial. Males are renowned for collecting volatile fragrances from orchids and other sources, storing them in specialized tibial pockets to use in courtship displays.

Etymology

From Greek eu- (good, true) + glossa (tongue), referring to the long proboscis characteristic of the group.

Example

Male Euglossa dilemma and Eulaema species are frequent research subjects in chemical ecology studies, as their fragrance-collecting behavior requires precise discrimination among complex volatile compounds and drives orchid pollination specificity in Neotropical forests.

Synonyms

• Orchid bees
• euglossine bees

Related Terms

• corbicula
• Apinae
• eusociality
• kleptoparasitism
• fragrance collection
• orchid pollination
• Exaerete
• Euglossa
• Eulaema

Usage Notes

The tribe includes the genera Euglossa, Eulaema, Eufriesea, Exaerete, and Aglae. Exaerete and Aglae are cleptoparasitic (cuckoo bees) that lack pollen-carrying structures. The term 'orchid bee' is sometimes used more broadly in popular contexts but technically refers specifically to Euglossini. The group is restricted to the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico to Argentina.