Melittidae

melittid bees

Subfamily Guides

is a small comprising over 200 described in three (Dasypodainae, Melittinae, Meganomiinae). The family has a disjunct distribution restricted to Africa and the northern temperate zone. Melittids are strictly solitary, ground-nesting bees characterized by oligolectic foraging habits—specialized pollen collection from a narrow range of plants. Some , notably Macropis, possess specialized for collecting floral oils. Molecular phylogenetic studies support Melittidae as potentially sister to all other bees, though this relationship remains under investigation. The family exhibits a lower diversification rate compared to other bee families, attributed to their specialized host-plant associations.

Macropis by (c) Julia Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Julia Moning. Used under a CC-BY license.

Hesperapis by (c) Pat Farris, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pat Farris. Used under a CC-BY license.

Melitta by (c) USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Melittidae: /mɛˈlɪtɪdiː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Small to moderate-sized bees. Specialized morphological features for oil collection present in some (e.g., Macropis). Strictly solitary with females constructing individual burrows in soil or sand. Oligolectic pollen foraging results in predictable floral associations that can aid identification.

Images

Habitat

Ground-nesting in sandy or loamy soils; recorded from sand steppes, valley landscapes, forest-steppe, southern taiga, mountain areas, and arid regions. Nests are excavated burrows reaching depths up to 80 cm in some .

Distribution

Disjunct distribution: Africa (Afrotropical region, particularly eastern and southern Africa) and the northern temperate zone (Europe, western and central Asia, Russia, Turkey, northern China). In Russia, recorded from Ulyanovsk Oblast, Ryazan Oblast, Nizhny Novgorod region, Crimea, Lower Volga region, Western Siberia, Yakutia, Amur Oblast, Primorye, and other regions. Palearctic records include France, Italy, Morocco, and Denmark. Fossil melittids known from Eocene amber deposits of Oise, France and Baltic amber.

Seasonality

season extends from late spring to late summer; timing varies by with some showing staggered emergence (males typically precede females by several days).

Diet

Oligolectic: specialized pollen foraging on narrow ranges of plants. Documented associations include Scolymus (Asteraceae), Lysimachia (Primulaceae), alfalfa (lucerne), and early flowering forage legumes. Some collect floral oils in addition to pollen.

Life Cycle

Strictly solitary. Females excavate burrows in soil or sand, provision with pollen, and deposit one per cell. Larval development spans approximately 10 days, followed by as and the subsequent year. All females are reproductive; no .

Behavior

Males typically emerge several days before females. Mating occurs on or near plants surrounding sites. Some exhibit gregarious nesting (multiple females nesting in proximity). Females use specialized leg structures for pollen and oil collection; metatibial spurs assist in pollen removal from floral hosts in some .

Ecological Role

of wild and cultivated plants, including agricultural crops (alfalfa, seed legumes). Component of fauna in steppe, taiga, forest-steppe, and mountain . Narrow trophic specialization makes them vulnerable to -plant declines. Some listed in regional Red Data Books.

Human Relevance

of agricultural significance, particularly for alfalfa and legume seed production. Subject of conservation concern due to specialized and -plant requirements; some protected in nature reserves.