Melittidae

Definition

A small family of solitary bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) comprising roughly 200 described species in three subfamilies: Dasypodainae, Meganomiinae, and Melittinae. Endemic to Africa and the northern temperate zone, melittids are ground-nesting bees that often exhibit narrow floral specialization and include some of the most ancient bee lineages. Recent molecular phylogenetics indicates the family is paraphyletic, prompting proposals to elevate Dasypodainae and Meganomiinae to family rank.

Etymology

From New Latin Melitta (type genus, from Greek mélitta, 'bee') + -idae (family suffix)

Example

The melittid genus Macropis is obligately associated with oil-producing Lysimachia flowers, collecting floral oils rather than nectar to provision its larvae.

Related Terms

• Apoidea
• Dasypodainae
• Meganomiinae
• Melittinae
• paraphyly
• solitary bee
• ground-nesting bee
• floral oil collection

Usage Notes

Specialists increasingly treat Dasypodainae and Meganomiinae as separate families based on molecular data; 'Melittidae' in the strict sense may eventually be restricted to Melittinae. The family is not to be confused with Melittidae (an obsolete fish family) or similar names in other taxa.