Colletes longifacies

Stephen, 1954

Long-faced Cellophane Bee

Colletes longifacies is a solitary in the Colletidae, to Florida and one of only five Colletidae species restricted to that state. It occurs in North-Central Peninsular Florida and the Florida Panhandle. Like other members of its , it is a ground-nesting bee that lines its with a cellophane-like secretion, earning it the 'cellophane bee' or 'plasterer bee'.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Colletes longifacies: /kɔˈlɛtɛs lɒŋɪˈfeɪʃi.iːz/

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Identification

As a member of the Colletes, this shares diagnostic traits with congenerics: a forked or bifurcated (tongue), -shaped in frontal view, and an S-shaped (sinuous) second recurrent in the forewing. These features distinguish Colletes from similar ground-nesting bees such as Andrena (mining bees), which have a rounder face and a straighter second recurrent vein. Specific identification of C. longifacies likely requires examination of facial proportions, as suggested by the specific epithet 'longifacies' (long face), though precise diagnostic characters for this species are not documented in the provided sources.

Distribution

to Florida, United States. Documented from North-Central Peninsular Florida and the Florida Panhandle.

Similar Taxa

Andrena spp.Mining bees in the Andrena are similar ground-nesting bees that can be distinguished by their rounder (vs. -shaped in Colletes) and straighter second recurrent wing (vs. S-shaped in Colletes).
Other Colletes speciesOther Colletes share the generic characters of forked , -shaped , and sinuous second recurrent ; C. longifacies is distinguished by its Florida and likely facial proportions.

More Details

Florida endemism

Colletes longifacies is one of only five in the Colletidae that are to Florida, highlighting the state's significance as a center of diversity for this family.