Overview
Comprehensive Description
Apidae (Honeybees and Bumblebees)
The bees in this family display varying degrees of sociality in their living arrangements. While there are few species in this family, they are common visitors of many prairie wildflowers. Apinae (Honeybees): There is only one species in this subfamily, Apis mellifera (Honeybee), that is present in North America. This familiar bee was introduced to the New World by early colonists. It has declined in numbers in recent years and probably isn't as important as when Charles Robertson observed its behavior during 1880-1930. The flight time of the honeybee ranges from spring to late fall, and it visits a wide variety of wildflowers. Bombini (Bumblebees): These large fuzzy bees are probably the most important pollinators of all. They are especially like to visit the larger composite flowers and long tube-shaped flowers from various families of plants. They nest in the ground or in cavities of various kinds. This tribe includes various Bombus spp. (Bumblebees), which are usually black and yellow and covered with abundant hairs.
The bees in this family display varying degrees of sociality in their living arrangements. While there are few species in this family, they are common visitors of many prairie wildflowers. Apinae (Honeybees): There is only one species in this subfamily, Apis mellifera (Honeybee), that is present in North America. This familiar bee was introduced to the New World by early colonists. It has declined in numbers in recent years and probably isn't as important as when Charles Robertson observed its behavior during 1880-1930. The flight time of the honeybee ranges from spring to late fall, and it visits a wide variety of wildflowers. Bombini (Bumblebees): These large fuzzy bees are probably the most important pollinators of all. They are especially like to visit the larger composite flowers and long tube-shaped flowers from various families of plants. They nest in the ground or in cavities of various kinds. This tribe includes various Bombus spp. (Bumblebees), which are usually black and yellow and covered with abundant hairs.
-
Hilty, J. Editor. 2010. Insect Visitors of Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. flowervisitors.info, version (09/2010).
See: Abbreviations for Insect Activities, Abbreviations for Scientific Observers, References for behavioral observations H
© John Hilty
Trusted
Anthophoridae (Anthophorid Bees)
This is a large family of long-tongued bees that includes various Miner bees, Carpenter bees, and parasitic bees. Miner bees build nests in the ground consisting of tunnels and brood chambers, while Carpenter bees chew holes in rotting wood or the pith of shrubs to construct their nests. Anthophorini (Miner Bees, Anthophorine Bees): These are rather large, fast-flying, hairy bees with very long tongues. This tribe includes the Anthophora spp. Ceratinini (Little Carpenter Bees): These small bees construct nests in the pith of shrubs, particularly Elderberry and Sumac. Includes the Ceratina spp. While few in species, they are common visitors of many prairie wildflowers. Emphorini (Miner Bees, Emphorine Bees): This small family includes Ptilothrix bombiformis and Melitoma taurea. The latter species is especially attracted to large bell-shaped flowers in the Mallow and Morning Glory families. Epeolini, Melectini, and Nomadini (Cuckoo Bees): The bees from these three tribes are brood parasites on other Miner bees in the Anthophoridae family. Some species of Nomadini also parasitize the nests of Andrenid bees. Nomadine bees are most active during the spring or early summer, while Epeoline bees are more active later in the year. Melectine bees are uncommon visitors of prairie wildflowers.
Eucerini (Miner Bees, Long-Horned Bees, Eucerine Bees): Sometimes called "Long-Horned Bees" because of the long antennae of the males. Species in this tribe construct nests in the ground and are important visitors of many prairie wildflowers. Includes Melissodes, Synhalonia, and Svastra spp. Some specialist pollinators of this tribe are Peponapis pruinosa pruinosa (Squash and Gourd Bee) and Cemolobus ipomoeae (Morning Glory Bee). Pasitidini (Miner Bees, Pasitidine Bees): This small tribe includes Holcopasites spp. The species Holcopasites heliopis is a specialist pollinator of Heliopsis helianthoides (False Sunflower). Xylocopini (Large Carpenter Bees): This includes Xylocopa virginica (Eastern Carpenter Bee). This large bee chews holes through rotting wood to construct its nests. It will sometimes rob nectar from a flower by chewing holes at the base near the nectaries. Larger flowers offering abundant pollen and nectar supplies are especially attractive to it.
This is a large family of long-tongued bees that includes various Miner bees, Carpenter bees, and parasitic bees. Miner bees build nests in the ground consisting of tunnels and brood chambers, while Carpenter bees chew holes in rotting wood or the pith of shrubs to construct their nests. Anthophorini (Miner Bees, Anthophorine Bees): These are rather large, fast-flying, hairy bees with very long tongues. This tribe includes the Anthophora spp. Ceratinini (Little Carpenter Bees): These small bees construct nests in the pith of shrubs, particularly Elderberry and Sumac. Includes the Ceratina spp. While few in species, they are common visitors of many prairie wildflowers. Emphorini (Miner Bees, Emphorine Bees): This small family includes Ptilothrix bombiformis and Melitoma taurea. The latter species is especially attracted to large bell-shaped flowers in the Mallow and Morning Glory families. Epeolini, Melectini, and Nomadini (Cuckoo Bees): The bees from these three tribes are brood parasites on other Miner bees in the Anthophoridae family. Some species of Nomadini also parasitize the nests of Andrenid bees. Nomadine bees are most active during the spring or early summer, while Epeoline bees are more active later in the year. Melectine bees are uncommon visitors of prairie wildflowers.
Eucerini (Miner Bees, Long-Horned Bees, Eucerine Bees): Sometimes called "Long-Horned Bees" because of the long antennae of the males. Species in this tribe construct nests in the ground and are important visitors of many prairie wildflowers. Includes Melissodes, Synhalonia, and Svastra spp. Some specialist pollinators of this tribe are Peponapis pruinosa pruinosa (Squash and Gourd Bee) and Cemolobus ipomoeae (Morning Glory Bee). Pasitidini (Miner Bees, Pasitidine Bees): This small tribe includes Holcopasites spp. The species Holcopasites heliopis is a specialist pollinator of Heliopsis helianthoides (False Sunflower). Xylocopini (Large Carpenter Bees): This includes Xylocopa virginica (Eastern Carpenter Bee). This large bee chews holes through rotting wood to construct its nests. It will sometimes rob nectar from a flower by chewing holes at the base near the nectaries. Larger flowers offering abundant pollen and nectar supplies are especially attractive to it.
-
Hilty, J. Editor. 2010. Insect Visitors of Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. flowervisitors.info, version (09/2010).
See: Abbreviations for Insect Activities, Abbreviations for Scientific Observers, References for behavioral observations H
© John Hilty
Trusted
Ecology
Associations
Known prey organisms
Apidae (honeybees) preys on:
nectar
Based on studies in:
USA: Arizona, Sonora Desert (Desert or dune)
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
nectar
Based on studies in:
USA: Arizona, Sonora Desert (Desert or dune)
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
© SPIRE project
Source:
SPIRE
Trusted
Evolution and Systematics
Functional Adaptations
Functional adaptation
Bees collect DDT: orchid bees
"While studying the ecology of the malaria vector Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) darlingi Root along the Ituxi River, Amazonas, Brazil, we observed aggregates of bees on the walls of houses that were routinely sprayed with DDT. Several bees collected from DDT-treated house walls in August 1978 were identified as male specimens of Eufriesia purpurata (Moscary) of the tribe Euglossini (Hymenoptera: Apoidae)…These bees were well known to the local residents as the insects that eat DDT and we present here the first documentation that they (1) are attracted to DDT, (2) actively collect large quantities of DDT from treated house walls and (3) suffer no apparent insecticidal effects. We also found that the frequency of house visiting is most intense during July to September. Most bees arrive at houses before 12.00 h, remain 2−3 h and return on subsequent days to collect more DDT." (Roberts et al. 1982:62)
"Brazilian bees of the species Eufriesea purpurata are known to tolerate very high concentrations of DDT. As reported in the literature, these bees have suffered no harm from as much as 2 mg/bee, which is in the per-cent range of the body weight. In 1979, individuals of E. purpurata were captured as they collected DDT from walls of remote, rural houses in Brazil. Reported herein are quantities and identities of DDT, DDT metabolites, and other organohalogen compounds in four samples of bees stored since 1979. The concentrations of DDT (sum of p,p′-DDT, -DDE, and -DDD) ranged from 23 to 314 μg/bee which is up to twelve fold higher than the LD50 value of DDT in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) but significantly lower than the no-effect concentration in E. purpurata. Enantioselective determination confirmed the presence of racemic o,p′-DDT in the four individual samples. GC/ECNI-MS investigation resulted in the detection of low amounts (< 1 μg/bee) of PCA, lindane, and chlordane. At higher retention times four unknown compounds were detected with a proposed molecular ion at m/z 498, a non-aromatic hydrocarbon backbone along with the presence of eight chlorine substituents. Neither the structure nor the origin of these compounds could be determined. Considering where and when the bees were collected and considering the biology and ecology of the euglossine bees themselves, we propose that the four unknowns are natural products and, as such, are the most highly chlorinated natural compounds yet discovered." (Vetter & Roberts 2007:371)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
Some orchid bees are able to tolerate high concentrations of DDT, strategy unknown.
"While studying the ecology of the malaria vector Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) darlingi Root along the Ituxi River, Amazonas, Brazil, we observed aggregates of bees on the walls of houses that were routinely sprayed with DDT. Several bees collected from DDT-treated house walls in August 1978 were identified as male specimens of Eufriesia purpurata (Moscary) of the tribe Euglossini (Hymenoptera: Apoidae)…These bees were well known to the local residents as the insects that eat DDT and we present here the first documentation that they (1) are attracted to DDT, (2) actively collect large quantities of DDT from treated house walls and (3) suffer no apparent insecticidal effects. We also found that the frequency of house visiting is most intense during July to September. Most bees arrive at houses before 12.00 h, remain 2−3 h and return on subsequent days to collect more DDT." (Roberts et al. 1982:62)
"Brazilian bees of the species Eufriesea purpurata are known to tolerate very high concentrations of DDT. As reported in the literature, these bees have suffered no harm from as much as 2 mg/bee, which is in the per-cent range of the body weight. In 1979, individuals of E. purpurata were captured as they collected DDT from walls of remote, rural houses in Brazil. Reported herein are quantities and identities of DDT, DDT metabolites, and other organohalogen compounds in four samples of bees stored since 1979. The concentrations of DDT (sum of p,p′-DDT, -DDE, and -DDD) ranged from 23 to 314 μg/bee which is up to twelve fold higher than the LD50 value of DDT in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) but significantly lower than the no-effect concentration in E. purpurata. Enantioselective determination confirmed the presence of racemic o,p′-DDT in the four individual samples. GC/ECNI-MS investigation resulted in the detection of low amounts (< 1 μg/bee) of PCA, lindane, and chlordane. At higher retention times four unknown compounds were detected with a proposed molecular ion at m/z 498, a non-aromatic hydrocarbon backbone along with the presence of eight chlorine substituents. Neither the structure nor the origin of these compounds could be determined. Considering where and when the bees were collected and considering the biology and ecology of the euglossine bees themselves, we propose that the four unknowns are natural products and, as such, are the most highly chlorinated natural compounds yet discovered." (Vetter & Roberts 2007:371)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Roberts DR; Alecrim WD; Heller JM; Ehrhardt SR; Lima JB. 1982. Male Eufriesia purpurata, a DDT-collecting euglossine bee in Brazil. Nature Chemical Biology. 297: 62 - 63.
- Vetter W; Roberts D. 2007. Revisiting the organohalogens associated with 1979-samples of Brazilian bees (Eufriesea purpurata). Science of The Total Environment. 377(2-3): 371-377.
© The Biomimicry Institute
Source:
AskNature
Trusted
Functional adaptation
Plants enhance health: golden bee
"Male golden bees seek out and collect 'fragrances' from orchids and other plants that contain no nutrients.41 Historically we have explained this attraction to strong odors in terms of pheromonal communication, or scent disguise. However, it is also possible that because volatile oils interfere with bacterial respiration and are commonly detrimental or repellent to arthropods and insects, rubbing in or collecting smelly substances could reflect an adaptive preference for compounds that enhance health." (Engel 2002:126)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
Visits to nutrient-poor plants by golden bees may help protect from disease and parasites thanks to the collection of volatile oils.
"Male golden bees seek out and collect 'fragrances' from orchids and other plants that contain no nutrients.41 Historically we have explained this attraction to strong odors in terms of pheromonal communication, or scent disguise. However, it is also possible that because volatile oils interfere with bacterial respiration and are commonly detrimental or repellent to arthropods and insects, rubbing in or collecting smelly substances could reflect an adaptive preference for compounds that enhance health." (Engel 2002:126)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Engel, C. 2002. Wild health: how animals keep themselves well and what we can learn from them. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 276 p.
- Eltz, T.; Whitten, W.M.; Roubik, D.W.; Linsenmair, K.E. Fragrance collection, storage, and accumulation by individual male orchid bees. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 25(1): 157-176.
© The Biomimicry Institute
Source:
AskNature
Trusted
Functional adaptation
Antennae detect individual orchid species: iridescent bees
In the forests of Central America, "Each of the twenty or so species of bucket orchid has its own brand of scent. Although human nostrils cannot distinguish between them, the iridescent bees that live in these forests certainly can. Each species of orchid attracts its own species of bee." (Attenborough 1995:108)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
The antennae of iridescent bees detect the scent of individual orchid species using especially sensitive chemoreceptors.
In the forests of Central America, "Each of the twenty or so species of bucket orchid has its own brand of scent. Although human nostrils cannot distinguish between them, the iridescent bees that live in these forests certainly can. Each species of orchid attracts its own species of bee." (Attenborough 1995:108)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Attenborough, D. 1995. The Private Life of Plants: A Natural History of Plant Behavior. London: BBC Books. 320 p.
© The Biomimicry Institute
Source:
AskNature
Trusted
Functional adaptation
Relationships essential to pollination: Brazil nut tree
"Efforts intended to create habitats are often unsuccessful. When farmers tried to grow Brazil nuts commercially, they cut down tropical rainforest and planted Brazil nut trees in rows, plantation-style. But these trees depend on orchid bees for pollination, and without the natural orchids of the rainforest, there were not enough orchid bees in the plantations. Hence no nuts were produced." (Forsyth 1992:41)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
The Brazil nut tree relies on the orchid bee for pollination, which in turn relies on certain species of orchids for reproduction.
"Efforts intended to create habitats are often unsuccessful. When farmers tried to grow Brazil nuts commercially, they cut down tropical rainforest and planted Brazil nut trees in rows, plantation-style. But these trees depend on orchid bees for pollination, and without the natural orchids of the rainforest, there were not enough orchid bees in the plantations. Hence no nuts were produced." (Forsyth 1992:41)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Forsyth, A. 1992. Exploring the World of Insects: The Equinox Guide to Insect Behaviour. Camden House.
© The Biomimicry Institute
Source:
AskNature
Trusted
Functional adaptation
Collaborating for group decisions: honeybees
"Researchers at the Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, led by principal researcher Feniosky Pena-Mora, are looking at ways to improve human collaboration during disaster relief efforts. They are attempting to draw inspiration from the collaboration patterns that honeybees use in their decision-making process when selecting a new hive or foraging, ants' behavior when they are under threat, and how infectious diseases spread among human populations. The team includes biological, computer, and social scientists, and civil engineers. The team believes that civil engineers should be a fourth group of first-responders at disaster relief efforts involving critical physical infrastructures. The researchers will develop ad hoc communication networks to spread critical information among first responders, similar to how a virus spreads. Models of collaboration based on study of ants and bees may be useful in understanding the basic principles and best practices when developing strategies to coordinate knowledge sharing in chaotic social settings." (Courtesy of the Biomimicry Guild)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
Honeybees collaborate when foraging, selecting a new hive through knowledge sharing.
"Researchers at the Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, led by principal researcher Feniosky Pena-Mora, are looking at ways to improve human collaboration during disaster relief efforts. They are attempting to draw inspiration from the collaboration patterns that honeybees use in their decision-making process when selecting a new hive or foraging, ants' behavior when they are under threat, and how infectious diseases spread among human populations. The team includes biological, computer, and social scientists, and civil engineers. The team believes that civil engineers should be a fourth group of first-responders at disaster relief efforts involving critical physical infrastructures. The researchers will develop ad hoc communication networks to spread critical information among first responders, similar to how a virus spreads. Models of collaboration based on study of ants and bees may be useful in understanding the basic principles and best practices when developing strategies to coordinate knowledge sharing in chaotic social settings." (Courtesy of the Biomimicry Guild)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
© The Biomimicry Institute
Source:
AskNature
Trusted
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Barcode
Locations of barcode samples
Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Apidae 
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Statistics of barcoding coverage
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
| Specimen Records: | 12,338 |
| Specimens with Sequences: | 9,313 |
| Specimens with Barcodes: | 8,237 |
| Public Records: | 1,184 |
| Species: | 1,950 |
| Species With Barcodes: | 1,685 |
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Barcode data
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Wikipedia
Apidae
The Apidae are a large family of bees, comprising the common honey bees, stingless bees (which are also cultured for honey), carpenter bees, orchid bees, cuckoo bees, bumblebees, and various other less well-known groups. The family Apidae presently includes all the genera that were previously classified in the families Anthophoridae and Ctenoplectridae, and most of these are solitary species, though a few are also cleptoparasites. The four groups that were subfamilies in the old family Apidae are presently ranked as tribes within the subfamily Apinae. This trend has been taken to its extreme in a few recent classifications that place all the existing bee families together under the name "Apidae" (or, alternatively, the non-Linnaean clade "Anthophila"), but this is not a widely-accepted practice.
The subfamily Apinae contains a diversity of lineages, the majority of which are solitary, and whose nests are simple burrows in the soil. However, honey bees, stingless bees, and bumblebees are colonial (eusocial), though they are sometimes believed to have each developed this independently, and show notable differences in such things as communication between workers and methods of nest construction. Xylocopines (the subfamily which includes carpenter bees) are mostly solitary, though they tend to be gregarious, and some lineages such as the Allodapini contain eusocial species; most members of this subfamily make nests in plant stems or wood. The nomadines are all cleptoparasites in the nests of other bees.
References
- Borror, D. J., DeLong, D. M., Triplehorn, C. A.(1976) cuarta edición. An introduction to the study of insects. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. New York, Chicago. ISBN 0-03-088406-3
- Arnett, R. H. Jr. (2000) Segunda edición. American insects. CRC Press, Boca Ratón, Londres, New York, Washington, D. C. ISBN 0-8493-0212-9
- Michener, Charles D. (2000) The bees of the world. The John Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, Londres. ISBN 0-8018-6133-0
- O'Toole, Christopher, Raw, Anthony (1999) Bees of the world. Cassell Illustrated. ISBN 0-8160-5712-5
- Mitchell, T.B. (1962). Bees of the Eastern United States, Volumen II. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Tech. Bul. No.152, 557 p.
Source:
Wikipedia
Unreviewed
Disclaimer
EOL content is automatically assembled from many different content providers. As a result, from time to time you may find pages on EOL that are confusing.
To request an improvement, please leave a comment on the page. Thank you!
