Emphorini
Chimney Bees
Genus Guides
3- Diadasia(cactus bees)
- Melitoma(chimney bees)
- Ptilothrix(chimney bees)
Emphorini is a tribe of solitary, ground-nesting bees within the Apidae. Members are characterized by narrow pollen preferences, with many exhibiting oligolecty (specialized pollen collection from a restricted range of plant ). Nesting varies: some species carry water to soften hard soil during excavation, while others do not. The tribe includes approximately nine distributed primarily in the New World, with an amphitropical distribution pattern in some genera.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Emphorini: /ɛmˈfɔrɪnaɪ/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
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Habitat
Ground-nesting in varied soil types including gravelly, sandy, and hard compact soils. Some associated with riparian areas. Nesting sites require well-insolated conditions and may occur in on flat, bare ground.
Distribution
New World distribution with amphitropical pattern in some (e.g., Ptilothrix). Documented from North America through Central and South America, including Amazonian regions of Brazil and Caatinga in northeastern Brazil.
Diet
Narrow pollen preferences with documented oligolecty on specific plants including Portulaca spp. (Portulacaceae), Convolvulaceae (Ipomoea carnea), and Malvaceae (Iliamna latibracteata). Some exhibit host-switching when usual pollen hosts are unavailable.
Host Associations
- Portulaca cfr. equinosperma - pollen
- Portulaca spp. - pollen
- Ipomoea carnea - pollen and male sleeping site
- Iliamna latibracteata - pollen
Life Cycle
Solitary nesting with individual females constructing and provisioning nests. Nest architecture typically includes a main tunnel perpendicular or vertical to the surface, with lateral tunnels leading to series of . Cells provisioned with ball-shaped pollen masses; laid on lower side of provision. Cell excavation direction indistinct in some .
Behavior
Females excavate soil nests using , pushing soil outside with lateral movements and hind legs. Water-carrying to soften substrate during excavation present in many but absent in others. Foraging occurs primarily in morning to midday; nest construction dominates afternoon activity. Males patrol flowers used by females and use wilted flowers of plants as overnight resting sites.
Ecological Role
Specialized of oligolectic plant associations. Prey/host for natural enemies including cleptoparasitic bees (Leiopodus trochantericus), Mutillidae , flies of Anthrax, and wasp Melittobia hawaiiensis.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Distribution and morphometric studies of flagellar sensilla in Emphorini bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea)
- Architecture of nests and nesting behavior bee Alepidosceles filitarsis (Vachal) (Apidae, Emphorini)
- Nesting Biology of the Solitary Ground-Nesting Bee Diadasina riparia (Apidae: Emphorini)
- First nesting site record of the bee species Diadasina paraensis (Ducke, 1912) (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Emphorini)
- Male Emphorini (Hymenoptera: Apidae) bees use flowers of Ipomoea carnea (Convolvulaceae) as overnight resting sites
- First record of the parasitoidMelittobia hawaiiensis(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) associated with Emphorini bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
- The North American bees of the genus Ptilothrix Cresson, 1878 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Emphorini), with the description of two new species
- Host-switching by a bee where its usual pollen host is not present: Diadasia diminuta (Cresson, 1878) (Apidae: Eucerinae: Emphorini) uses the rare mallow, Iliamna latibracteata Wiggins (Malvaceae), as its pollen host in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon