Longhorn-bee
Guides
Gaesischia exul
Exiled Longhorn
Gaesischia exul is a species of longhorn bee in the family Apidae, tribe Eucerini. Described in 1955 by Michener, LaBerge and Moure, this bee is known by the common name 'Exiled Longhorn'. As a member of the Eucerini, it belongs to a group of solitary, ground-nesting bees that are important pollinators. The specific epithet 'exul' (Latin for 'exile' or 'wanderer') likely refers to some aspect of its distribution or behavior, though the original etymology is not documented in available sources.
Melissodes desponsus
Eastern Thistle Longhorn Bee
Melissodes desponsus is a solitary, ground-nesting longhorn bee native to northeastern North America. Females are oligolectic specialists on Cirsium thistles, collecting white pollen that often obscures their distinctive orange scopae. The species is active in mid-to-late summer and has been assessed as vulnerable or imperiled in several regional conservation evaluations, though it lacks a comprehensive rangewide status assessment.
Melissoptila otomita
Otomi Longhorn
Melissoptila otomita is a species of longhorn bee in the family Apidae, tribe Eucerini. Commonly known as the Otomi Longhorn, this bee belongs to a genus characterized by males with exceptionally long antennae. The species occurs across much of the Americas, from North America through Middle America to South America. As a member of the Eucerini, it is a solitary bee that likely nests in the ground and visits flowers for pollen and nectar.