Oil-collecting
Guides
Centridini
oil-collecting bees, oil bees
Centridini is a tribe of large apid bees distinguished by specialized adaptations for collecting floral oils, often from plants of the family Malpighiaceae. Many species possess modified leg structures—either combs of flattened, blunt bristles or velvety pads—for gathering oils, which are used in nest construction and cell provisioning. The tribe includes ground-nesting and cavity-nesting solitary bees with diverse nesting behaviors across the Americas. Members exhibit notable thermal tolerance, with some desert species remaining active at high temperatures when other bees are inactive.
Centris errans
Wandering Centris, Florida locust-berry oil-collecting bee, spiny bear's-breech
Centris errans is a species of oil-collecting bee in the tribe Centridini, family Apidae. It is endemic to Florida, where it is one of five Apidae species restricted to the state. The species occurs in the southernmost portion of Florida and has also been recorded in the broader Caribbean and North America regions. Like other Centris bees, it is known to collect floral oils rather than nectar from certain host plants.
Centris nitida
Shining Oil-digger Bee
Centris nitida is a centridine bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the Shining Oil-digger Bee. The species is native to Central America and has been introduced to Florida in the United States. It belongs to a genus specialized in collecting floral oils rather than nectar, using these oils to provision nests and feed larvae. Two subspecies are recognized: Centris nitida nitida and Centris nitida geminata.