Cryptic-species
Guides
Pelochrista popana
A small tortricid moth in the genus Pelochrista, described by Kearfott in 1907. As a member of the tribe Eucosmini, it belongs to a diverse group of small moths often referred to as tortrix moths or leafroller moths. The genus Pelochrista contains numerous species that are frequently challenging to distinguish without detailed examination.
Pemphigus betae
sugarbeet root aphid, sugar-beet root-louse
Pemphigus betae is a gall-forming aphid with a complex heteroecious life cycle involving host alternation between cottonwood trees (Populus angustifolia, P. balsamifera) and sugar beet roots. Stem mothers emerge in spring to form galls on poplar leaves, producing up to 300 progeny per gall. Winged migrants disperse to Chenopodiaceae roots for summer feeding, causing significant agricultural damage. The species exhibits clonal variation in host-alternation propensity, with some lineages remaining on roots year-round. Molecular studies reveal cryptic sympatric diversity, with morphologically indistinguishable galls formed by P. betae, P. populivenae, and a third undetermined species.
Pemphigus tartareus
Pemphigus tartareus is a North American aphid species in the family Aphididae, described by Hottes and Frison in 1931. It belongs to the genus Pemphigus, which comprises root-feeding aphids often associated with gall formation or subterranean development on host plants. The species has been historically confused with other root-infesting aphids in agricultural and horticultural contexts, particularly in discussions of "root aphid" pests.
Pentalonia
Pentalonia is a genus of aphids in the family Aphididae, established by Coquerel in 1859. The genus contains at least four recognized species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. Pentalonia nigronervosa, the banana aphid, is the most extensively studied species due to its role as the primary vector of Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), a devastating disease of banana crops worldwide. Recent morphometric and molecular studies have clarified that P. nigronervosa and P. caladii are distinct cryptic species with different host plant preferences.
Pentodontini
rhinoceros beetles
Pentodontini is the most diverse tribe within the subfamily Dynastinae (rhinoceros beetles), containing over 100 genera distributed across multiple biogeographic regions. Most genera are restricted to a single biogeographic region. The tribe is characterized by substantial morphological diversity, with generic-level identification often relying on mouthpart morphology in females and secondary sexual characters (horns, claw modifications, antennal club length) in males.
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hconnectivity-conservationcorridorbuffer-zoneprotected-areanational-parknature-reservewildlife-refugewilderness-areaworld-heritage-sitebiosphere-reserveRamsar-siteImportant-Bird-AreaKey-Biodiversity-AreaAlliance-for-Zero-Extinction-siteconservation-priorityhotspotcrisis-ecoregionglobal-200last-of-the-wildhuman-footprintcumulative-impactthreat-indexvulnerability-indexadaptive-capacityexposuresensitivityresilienceresistancerecoveryrestorationrehabilitationreintroductiontranslocationex-situin-situcaptive-breedingbotanic-gardenzoogene-bankseed-banktissue-banksperm-bankoocyte-bankembryo-bankDNA-bankfrozen-zooarkinsurancesafety-netde-extinctiongenetic-rescuegenetic-restorationgenetic-augmentationgenetic-managementpopulation-managementmetapopulationsource-sinkpatchmatrixlandscapeseascapeecosystembiomeecoregionprovincezoneregiondistrictsitelocalityhabitatmicrohabitatnicheecological-nichefundamental-nicherealized-nichetrophic-nichespatial-nichetemporal-nichebiotic-nicheabiotic-nichemultidimensional-nichen-dimensional-nicheHutchinsonian-nicheGrinnellian-nicheEltonian-nicheresourcerequirementlimitationstressdisturbanceperturbationfluctuationvariabilityheterogeneitycomplexitydiversityredundancystabilitypersistenceadaptationacclimationplasticityevolvabilityheritabilityselectiondriftflowmutationrecombinationspeciationcoalescencedivergenceconvergenceparallelismhomoplasyanalogyhomologysynapomorphysymplesiomorphyautapomorphyapomorphyplesiomorphyderivedancestralprimitiveadvancedbasalcrownstemnodebranchcladegradesubfamilyfamilysuperfamilyinfraordersuborderordersuperorderinfraclasssubclassclasssuperclasssubphylumphylumsuperphylumkingdomdomainlifeorganismindividualetc.Petrophila
Petrophila is a genus of aquatic moths in the family Crambidae, described by Lansdown Guilding in 1830. The genus comprises approximately 30-40 species distributed primarily in North America. Larvae are fully aquatic and inhabit flowing water systems, where they graze on algae and diatoms. Adults are diurnal and typically found resting on rocks near water bodies. The genus has become a notable subject of citizen science research due to the cryptic nature of many species, which can be difficult to distinguish without detailed examination.
Phausis
shadow ghosts, blue ghost fireflies
Phausis is a genus of firefly beetles in the family Lampyridae, established by LeConte in 1851. The genus is notable for extreme sexual dimorphism: males are small, winged, and typically non-luminescent, while females are larviform, flightless, and bioluminescent. Ten species are described from North America, including the well-known blue ghost firefly (Phausis reticulata). The genus remains poorly studied due to the cryptic nature of its species, and its taxonomic boundaries with the related genus Lamprohiza are unclear.
Phenacoccus aceris
apple mealybug, maple mealybug
Phenacoccus aceris, commonly known as the apple mealybug or maple mealybug, is a widespread polyphagous mealybug species in the family Pseudococcidae. Native to Europe, it has become established across the Holarctic region including North America and Asia. The species is a significant agricultural and horticultural pest, feeding on phloem sap of numerous host plants including apple, maple, grapevine, ash, and prickly ash. Recent molecular and morphological studies have revealed that P. aceris represents a species complex containing multiple cryptic species, with taxonomic confusion arising from co-occurring putative species that cannot be reliably separated by host-plant associations alone. The species is also an important vector of grapevine viruses, transmitting six ampeloviruses and two vitiviruses.
Photuris billbrowni
Bill's Hitch
Photuris billbrowni is a species of predatory firefly in the family Lampyridae, described by Lloyd in 2018. As a member of the genus Photuris, it likely exhibits the aggressive mimicry behavior characteristic of this group, where females lure males of other firefly species by mimicking their flash patterns to capture and consume them. The species is known from North America and has been documented through limited observations. Like other Photuris species, it is nocturnal and bioluminescent.
Photuris congener
Florida Single Snappy
Photuris congener is a firefly species in the predatory genus Photuris, first described by LeConte in 1852. Like other Photuris species, females are known to practice aggressive mimicry, luring males of other firefly genera through flash pattern imitation. The species is commonly known as the 'Florida Single Snappy' and occurs in North America. As with congeners, it produces bioluminescence through a luciferin-luciferase reaction in specialized abdominal photocytes.
Phrynidae
Phrynid Tailless Whipscorpions, whip spiders, tailless whip scorpions
Phrynidae is a family of amblypygid arachnids found in tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America. The family includes approximately 65 described species across five extant genera: Acanthophrynus, Heterophrynus, Paraphrynus, Phrynus, and the extinct genus †Britopygus. Species occupy diverse habitats including forests, caves, and subterranean environments. All species are nocturnal. Genetic studies indicate substantial cryptic diversity, with some nominal species likely comprising dozens of distinct lineages.
Phyllodonta
Phyllodonta is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae, subfamily Ennominae, established by Warren in 1894. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region, with some taxa extending into the Nearctic. Several species form cryptic complexes that are superficially indistinguishable based on adult external morphology but can be differentiated by genitalia, larval characteristics, host plant associations, and DNA barcodes. The genus has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, particularly for the latrata species group in Costa Rica.
Pinnixa
pea crabs
Pinnixa is a genus of small symbiotic crabs in the family Pinnotheridae, commonly known as pea crabs. Species in this genus are obligate or facultative symbionts of various marine invertebrates including bivalve mollusks, tube worms, ghost shrimp, and holothurians. The genus is characterized by a reduced rostrum, absence of teeth between the eyes, and a compact carapace adapted for living within host structures. Multiple species have been documented across the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the Americas and Asia.
Platydema teleops
Platydema teleops is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, described by Triplehorn in 1965. It belongs to the genus Platydema, which contains small to medium-sized beetles often associated with decaying plant matter and fungi. The species is known from eastern Canada, with records from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. It is one of the less commonly documented members of its genus, with limited observational data available.
Platynus
Platynus is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae containing over 180 described species. Species in this genus are primarily nocturnal predators with well-developed olfactory capabilities. The genus has been extensively studied in ecotoxicological research due to its role as a beneficial predatory insect in agricultural ecosystems. Several species have been used as model organisms to assess sublethal effects of insecticides on non-target beneficial arthropods.
Plutellidae
diamondback moths
Plutellidae is a family of small to medium-sized moths commonly known as diamondback moths, named after the economically significant pest species Plutella xylostella. The family contains approximately 26 described species in the genus Plutella, with additional genera including Eidophasia, Rhigognostis, and Homadaula. Members are characterized by elongated wings with long fringes, often appearing sickle-shaped, and generally drab coloration with banding or markings. The family has undergone taxonomic revision, with subfamilies Praydinae and Scythropiinae elevated to family status or transferred to other families.
Poecilochirus
Carrion Beetle Mites
Poecilochirus is a Holarctic genus of relatively large mites (0.5–1 mm) in the family Parasitidae. They are phoretic symbionts of burying beetles (Silphidae: Nicrophorus), using beetles for transport to vertebrate carcasses where they feed and reproduce. The genus exhibits extensive cryptic diversity, with molecular studies identifying 24 genetic clusters potentially representing distinct species. Their interaction with beetle hosts is context-dependent, ranging from antagonistic (egg predation, competition) to potentially mutualistic (preying on fly eggs and nematodes).
Polistes hirsuticornis
Hairy-horned Paper Wasp
Polistes hirsuticornis is a species of paper wasp described in 2012 from North American specimens previously misidentified as members of the P. fuscatus-group. It was formerly treated as Polistes fuscatus, P. metricus, or P. bellicosus. The species is hypothesized to be an obligate social parasite of other paper wasps, though this behavior remains undocumented by direct observation. It appears in regional identification literature as 'Polistes sp. A' and in genetic databases as 'Polistes sp. Buck1'.
Polygrammodes
Polygrammodes is a genus of crambid snout moths in the subfamily Spilomelinae. The genus contains multiple species distributed primarily in the New World. Adults are typically medium-sized moths with relatively broad wings. Larval stages are associated with various host plants, though specific associations vary by species.
Polyommatus
blue butterflies
Polyommatus is a genus of blue butterflies in the family Lycaenidae, distributed across the Palearctic realm. Recent molecular studies have redefined its boundaries, with former subgenera Cyaniris, Lysandra, and Neolysandra now recognized as separate genera. Some authors continue to recognize additional subgenera including Agrodiaetus, Bryna, Meleageria, and Plebicula. The genus contains species of conservation concern, including critically endangered and vulnerable taxa with specific habitat requirements.
Polypauropus
Polypauropus is a genus of minute soil-dwelling myriapods in the class Pauropoda, established by Remy in 1932. Pauropods are among the smallest myriapods, rarely exceeding 2 mm in length, and are characterized by their branched antennae and reduced body segmentation. The genus belongs to the family Polypauropodidae, which is distinguished by specific morphological features of the antennae and trunk segments. Species within this genus are found in Mediterranean and South Asian regions.
Polyphemus pediculus
Polyphemus pediculus is a predatory freshwater cladoceran crustacean in the family Polyphemidae. It is distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere but exhibits significant genetic structuring, representing at least nine largely allopatric cryptic species rather than a truly cosmopolitan population. The species displays complex reproductive behavior involving both parthenogenetic and gamogenetic (sexual) phases, with pronounced seasonal and daily rhythms in swarming activity.
Proceratium chickasaw
Proceratium chickasaw is a species of ant in the subfamily Proceratiinae, described by de Andrade in 2003. Members of this genus are small, cryptic ants known for specialized predatory behaviors. The species name refers to the Chickasaw people, indigenous to the southeastern United States. Like other Proceratium species, it likely exhibits specialized egg predation behaviors, though direct observations of this species remain limited.
Promyrmekiaphila
Promyrmekiaphila is a genus of mygalomorph trapdoor spiders endemic to California. First described by Schenkel in 1950, the genus currently contains three species: P. clathrata, P. winnemem, and P. korematsui. These spiders construct silk-lined burrows with wafer-like trapdoor lids and exhibit strong geographic population structuring with deep genetic divergence, particularly within P. clathrata. The genus is notable for morphological conservation despite considerable genetic differentiation, representing a cryptic species complex.
Pseudanidorus musculus
Pseudanidorus musculus is a species of ant-like leaf beetle in the family Aderidae. The genus Pseudanidorus is a small genus within this family of minute beetles. Aderidae, commonly known as ant-like leaf beetles, are a family of small beetles characterized by their compact bodies and often ant-mimicking appearance. Members of this family are typically found in decaying plant material and are poorly studied due to their small size and cryptic habits.
Psyllaephagus bliteus
Red gum lerp psyllid parasitoid
Psyllaephagus bliteus is an internal nymphal parasitoid in the family Encyrtidae, native to Australia and widely introduced as a classical biological control agent against the red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei, a major pest of Eucalyptus plantations. The species has been established in California, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Portugal, and Uganda. Females become sexually receptive at 48 hours post-emergence, with males initiating courtship through antennal contact and thorax-abdomen tapping. Development is delayed until the host reaches the fifth instar, with a pupal period of approximately 12.6 days at 26°C. The pupa is protected by three distinct layers: a thickened lerp basal wall, host mummification, and a melanized pupal sheath.
Ptenothrix beta
springtail
Ptenothrix beta is a species of globular springtail (Collembola: Symphypleona) first described in 1981. It exhibits exceptional morphological variability across its range in the northwestern United States. The species was historically confused with Ptenothrix maculosa and Ptenothrix delongi until citizen scientist observations in early 2025 clarified diagnostic characters, particularly antennal morphology.
Pteromalus
Pteromalus is a large genus of parasitic wasps in the family Pteromalidae, containing at least 430 described species. These small chalcidoid wasps are recognized as important biocontrol agents, particularly against pest fruit flies. The genus presents significant taxonomic challenges due to numerous cryptic species that are visually identical but genetically distinct. Many species remain undescribed, and identification relies heavily on detailed morphological measurements and modern interactive keys.
Pugettia
kelp crabs
Pugettia is a genus of marine kelp crabs in the family Epialtidae, distributed across the North Pacific from North America to East Asia. Species inhabit shallow subtidal zones, primarily associated with macroalgal habitats including kelp beds, Sargassum stands, and red algal turfs. Many species exhibit ontogenetic habitat shifts, with juveniles and smaller individuals occupying deeper algal turfs while larger adults migrate to shallower macroalgal beds. The genus includes approximately 25 extant species plus one fossil species, with several species serving as important subjects for studies of crab growth, reproduction, and habitat ecology.
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irritans
Human Flea, House Flea
Pulex irritans is a cosmopolitan flea species commonly known as the human flea. Despite its name, it has a broad host range including humans, dogs, cats, livestock, and various wild mammals. The species is thought to have originated in South America, possibly associated with guinea pigs or peccaries as original hosts. It is one of only six species in the genus Pulex, with the other five restricted to Nearctic and Neotropical regions. P. irritans has been found in human archaeological sediments dating back thousands of years in Europe and Greenland, demonstrating its long association with human populations. The species is medically significant as a potential vector of plague (Yersinia pestis), murine typhus, trench fever (Bartonella quintana), flea-borne spotted fever (Rickettsia felis), and the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum.
Purpuricenus
Purplescent Longhorn Beetles
Purpuricenus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) comprising approximately 50 species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. North American species are large, showy beetles with velvety black bodies and vivid red or orange basal elytral markings. The genus has been extensively studied due to its attractiveness to fermenting bait traps, a collecting method that has revealed cryptic species diversity and clarified host associations. The 2000 revision by MacRae resolved taxonomic confusion in eastern North America by distinguishing P. paraxillaris from the similar P. axillaris based on morphological and ecological differences.
Quedius molochinus
Quedius molochinus is a large, robust rove beetle in the subgenus Quedius sensu stricto. It is one of the most widespread species in its genus across the Palearctic region. The species has been introduced to eastern Canada, likely through historical ship ballast transport. Recent molecular studies have revealed unexpected cryptic diversity within this morphologically uniform species.
Reticulitermes
subterranean termites
Reticulitermes is a genus of subterranean termites in the family Rhinotermitidae, found across temperate regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. These termites are economically significant structural pests that live in soil and construct mud tubes to access above-ground wood. Colonies exhibit a three-caste system of workers, soldiers, and reproductives, with workers retaining developmental plasticity to become ergatoid reproductives. Species identification within the genus often requires molecular techniques due to overlapping morphological characteristics.
Rhinoleucophenga
Rhinoleucophenga is a genus of fruit flies in the family Drosophilidae, endemic to the New World with highest diversity in Neotropical open environments, particularly Brazil. The genus comprises at least 26 nominal species, with recent taxonomic work revealing numerous cryptic species and correcting long-standing misidentifications. One species, R. myrmecophaga, exhibits a remarkable predatory larval stage that exploits ant-plant mutualisms by trapping ants at extrafloral nectaries.
Rhopalosoma
cricket parasitoid wasps
Rhopalosoma is a genus of aculeate wasps in the family Rhopalosomatidae, comprising 18 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropics and southern Nearctic. Larvae develop as ectoparasitoids of crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae, Trigonidiidae), attaching externally to host nymphs or adults. Adults are rarely encountered in the field and are among the least known of all parasitoid wasps. Genetic studies indicate the presence of cryptic species diversity, with at least two genetically distinct lineages present in America north of Mexico.
Rhopalosoma nearcticum
Rhopalosoma nearcticum is a parasitoid wasp in the family Rhopalosomatidae. Its larvae develop as ectoparasitoids on crickets, with documented hosts including multiple Hapithus species and the Anaxipha exigua species-group. The species is found in the Americas from the United States to Brazil, though phylogenetic studies suggest at least two genetically distinct Rhopalosoma clades exist in America north of Mexico.
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Rhopalosomatid Wasps
Rhopalosomatidae is a small family of aculeate wasps containing approximately 68 extant species in four genera: Rhopalosoma, Olixon, Liosphex, and Paniscomima. Adults are solitary and often ant-like in appearance. Larvae are obligate ectoparasitoids of crickets (Orthoptera: Grylloidea), attaching to the lateral side of the host between the metafemur and abdomen. The family exhibits remarkable morphological diversity, with winged species typically nocturnal and brachypterous species mainly diurnal. The family has a worldwide tropical and subtropical distribution, absent from Europe and Antarctica.
Rivellia flavimana
Rivellia flavimana is a species of signal fly in the family Platystomatidae, first described by Loew in 1873. As a member of the genus Rivellia, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized flies known for their distinctive wing-waving behavior and patterned wings used in intraspecific communication. The species is currently accepted in taxonomic databases, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Schizomicrus caecus
Schizomicrus caecus is a species of weevil described by Casey in 1892. The specific epithet "caecus" (Latin for "blind") suggests possible eye reduction or loss, a trait associated with subterranean or cryptic lifestyles in some beetle groups. It belongs to the family Brachyceridae, a small family of weevils within the superfamily Curculionoidea. The species is known from North America, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Scythris immaculatella
Scythris immaculatella is a minute moth species in the family Scythrididae, first described from North America in 1875. The species belongs to a group commonly known as flower moths, characterized by their extremely small size and association with flowering plants. Records indicate a Holarctic distribution spanning North America and Eurasia. Like many scythridids, its biology remains poorly documented.
Segestriidae
Tube-dwelling spiders, Tunnel spiders
Segestriidae is a family of tube-dwelling spiders comprising two large and widespread genera (Segestria and Ariadna) and two smaller genera (Citharoceps and Gippsicola). Members are easily recognized by having six eyes arranged in a semicircle (rather than the typical eight eyes of most spiders) and the first three pairs of legs arranged forward (rather than two). These morphological features appear to be adaptations for living in silken tubes or burrows. The family has a global distribution across all continents except Antarctica, with greatest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. The genus Ariadna alone contains 102 of the 127 described species in the family.
Seira dubia
Seira dubia is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae, first described by Christiansen and Bellinger in 1980. Springtails in this genus are characterized by their elongated, slender body form and are members of the order Entomobryomorpha, one of the most diverse lineages of Collembola. As with other members of its family, S. dubia possesses a furcula (springing organ) that enables the characteristic jumping behavior of springtails. The species is currently accepted in taxonomic databases but appears to have limited published documentation beyond its original description.
Sericostomatidae
Bushtailed Caddisflies
Sericostomatidae is a family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) commonly known as bushtailed caddisflies. The family comprises approximately 19 genera and at least 90 described species. Larvae construct portable cases using silk and environmental materials. The family has a global distribution with notable diversity in the Palearctic region, including endemic species in the Balkans, Iberian Peninsula, and Madagascar.
Sinea incognita
Sinea incognita is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, described in 2015 after being misidentified as Sinea complexa for over a century. It occurs in the eastern and central United States, from Maryland south to Georgia and west to Kansas and Texas. The species was discovered when specimens from New Mexico failed to match identification keys developed for midwestern Sinea species.
Sphaeropthalma arota
velvet ant
Sphaeropthalma arota is a velvet ant (family Mutillidae) native to western North America. Phylogeographic studies indicate this name represents a cryptic species complex comprising four genetically distinct lineages that cannot be distinguished by current morphological methods. The species is adapted to arid environments, with diversification events linked to late Neogene mountain building and aridification in western North America. Like other mutillids, females are wingless and wasp-like in appearance, while males possess wings.
Sphenophorus probably-unnamed
Sphenophorus probably-unnamed is a billbug species within the weevil genus Sphenophorus, a group of turfgrass and agricultural pests whose larvae are notoriously difficult to identify morphologically. The specific epithet "probably-unnamed" indicates this taxon represents a distinct species that has not yet been formally described or named in the scientific literature. Like other Sphenophorus species, it is presumed to have a life cycle involving larval development within plant tissues and adult feeding on vegetation, though specific biological details for this undescribed taxon remain undocumented.
Spintharus
Spintharus is a genus of cobweb spiders (Theridiidae: Argyrodinae) established by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1850. The genus ranges from the northeastern United States to Brazil, with the highest diversity in the Caribbean. A 2018 revision by Agnarsson and colleagues described fifteen new species, many named after celebrities and public figures, making Spintharus notable for having the most species named after celebrities of any spider genus. Molecular evidence indicates that what was historically considered a single widespread species, S. flavidus, actually represents a 30 million year old radiation of at least 16 short-range endemic species in the Caribbean region.
Spintharus flavidus
Spintharus flavidus is a cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, historically considered a single widespread species ranging from northern North America to Brazil and throughout the Caribbean. Molecular phylogenetic analysis has rejected this hypothesis, revealing instead a 30 million year old radiation of at least 16 distinct species in the Caribbean region alone. Nearly all are short-range endemics with limited overwater dispersal ability. The Caribbean colonization event occurred approximately 30 million years ago, coinciding with the GAARLandia landbridge hypothesis.
Stegana
vinegar flies
Stegana is a genus of vinegar flies (Drosophilidae) comprising at least 140 described species. The genus is characterized by high morphological conservatism, particularly in the subgenus Orthostegana, where evolutionary stasis has produced numerous cryptic species that are difficult to distinguish by external morphology alone. Species delimitation often requires integrative approaches combining molecular data (mitochondrial COI and ND2 genes) with detailed morphological analysis.
Stelis
leach orchids
Stelis is a genus of Old World cleptoparasitic bees in the family Megachilidae, tribe Anthidiini. These bees are obligate cleptoparasites, meaning they do not construct their own nests but instead lay eggs in the nests of host bees, where their larvae consume the host's pollen provisions. The genus was established by Panzer in 1806 and contains multiple species distributed across Europe, Asia, and into the Arabian Peninsula. Some species have shown recent range expansions, with new country records continuing to be documented.