Melittology

Definition

The scientific study of bees, treated as a subdiscipline of entomology. Melittology encompasses the taxonomy, morphology, behavior, ecology, and conservation of bees in the clade Anthophila (superfamily Apoidea), a group exceeding 20,000 described species. The field spans both wild bees and managed pollinators, though the latter—honey bees and selected bumblebee species—represent a small fraction of total bee diversity.

Etymology

From Greek melitta 'bee' + -logy 'study of'

Example

A melittologist investigating solitary bee nesting biology might compare tunnel architecture across Andrena mining bees to understand substrate preferences and parasitism pressure.

Synonyms

• apiology
• apicology

Related Terms

• entomology
• apiculture
• pollination ecology
• Anthophila
• Apoidea
• bee morphology
• solitary bees
• cleptoparasitic bees

Usage Notes

Melittology is preferred in academic contexts for its precision; apiology and apicology are sometimes used interchangeably but can carry connotations of honey bee management (apiculture). The field explicitly includes the vast majority of bee species that are not commercially managed.