Andrenidae
Encyclopedia
The family Andrenidae is a large (nearly) cosmopolitan (absent in Australia) non-parasitic bee
family, with most of the diversity in temperate and/or arid areas (warm temperate xeric), including some truly enormous genera (e.g., Andrena
with over 1300 species, and Perdita
with nearly 800). One of the subfamilies, Oxaeinae
, are so different in appearance that they were typically accorded family status, but careful phylogenetic analysis reveals them to be an offshoot within the Andrenidae, very close to the Andreninae
.
They are typically small to moderate-sized bees, which often have scopae
on the basal segments of the leg in addition to the tibia
, and are commonly oligolectic (especially within the subfamily Panurginae
). They can be separated from other bee families by the presence of two subantennal sutures on the face, a primitive trait shared with the sphecoid wasps
. Many groups also have depressions or grooves called "foveae" on the head near the upper margin of the eyes, another feature seen in sphecoids, and also shared by some Colletidae
. Andrenids are among the few bee families that have no cleptoparasitic species. There are also a very large number of taxa, especially among the Panurginae
, whose sting apparatus is so reduced that they are effectively unable to sting.
The subfamily Oxaeinae
is rather different in appearance from the other subfamilies, being large, fast-flying bees with large eyes, resembling some of the larger Colletidae
.
; these species are active only at dusk or in the early evening, and therefore technically considered "vespertine
". In the Andrenidae, such species occur primarily in the subfamily Panurginae
. These bees, as is typical in such cases, have greatly enlarged ocelli
, though one subgenus of Andrena
that is crepuscular has normal ocelli. The other families with some crepuscular species are Halictidae
, Colletidae
, and Apidae
.
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
family, with most of the diversity in temperate and/or arid areas (warm temperate xeric), including some truly enormous genera (e.g., Andrena
Andrena
Andrena is the largest genus in the family Andrenidae, and is nearly worldwide in distribution, with the notable exceptions of Oceania and South America. With over 1,300 species, it is one of the largest of all bee genera...
with over 1300 species, and Perdita
Perdita (genus)
Perdita is a large genus of bees native to North America, particularly diverse in the desert regions of the United States and Mexico. There are over 700 recognized species and subspecies of Perdita, plus some 200 more as yet unnamed...
with nearly 800). One of the subfamilies, Oxaeinae
Oxaeinae
Oxaeinae are an exclusively American subfamily of the bee family Andrenidae, consisting of large , fast-flying bees, often with large eyes. There are only four constituent genera, with a total of 19 described species ranging from the United States to Argentina...
, are so different in appearance that they were typically accorded family status, but careful phylogenetic analysis reveals them to be an offshoot within the Andrenidae, very close to the Andreninae
Andreninae
The bee subfamily Andreninae is a nearly cosmopolitan lineage, with most of its diversity in one genus, Andrena, which contains over 1300 species...
.
They are typically small to moderate-sized bees, which often have scopae
Scopa (biology)
The term scopa is used to refer to any of a number of different modifications on the body of a non-parasitic bee that form a pollen-carrying apparatus. In most bees, the scopa is simply a particularly dense mass of elongated, often branched, hairs on the hind leg...
on the basal segments of the leg in addition to the tibia
Arthropod leg
The arthropod leg is a form of jointed appendage of arthropods, usually used for walking. Many of the terms used for arthropod leg segments are of Latin origin, and may be confused with terms for bones: coxa , trochanter , femur, tibia, tarsus, ischium, metatarsus, carpus, dactylus ,...
, and are commonly oligolectic (especially within the subfamily Panurginae
Panurginae
The bee subfamily Panurginae is a diverse lineage of 33 genera in 7 tribes. They are particularly diverse in the New World, though scarce in the tropics, and in the Old World they can be found primarily in the Palaearctic and Africa, but absent from Australia and tropical Asia...
). They can be separated from other bee families by the presence of two subantennal sutures on the face, a primitive trait shared with the sphecoid wasps
Spheciformes
The Spheciformes is a paraphyletic assemblage of insect families which collectively comprise the "sphecoid wasps"; these are all the members of the superfamily Apoidea which are not bees, and in older classifications were called the "Sphecoidea"...
. Many groups also have depressions or grooves called "foveae" on the head near the upper margin of the eyes, another feature seen in sphecoids, and also shared by some Colletidae
Colletidae
Colletidae is a family of bees, and are often referred to collectively as plasterer bees or polyester bees, due to the method of smoothing the walls of their nest cells with secretions applied with their mouthparts; these secretions dry into a cellophane-like lining...
. Andrenids are among the few bee families that have no cleptoparasitic species. There are also a very large number of taxa, especially among the Panurginae
Panurginae
The bee subfamily Panurginae is a diverse lineage of 33 genera in 7 tribes. They are particularly diverse in the New World, though scarce in the tropics, and in the Old World they can be found primarily in the Palaearctic and Africa, but absent from Australia and tropical Asia...
, whose sting apparatus is so reduced that they are effectively unable to sting.
The subfamily Oxaeinae
Oxaeinae
Oxaeinae are an exclusively American subfamily of the bee family Andrenidae, consisting of large , fast-flying bees, often with large eyes. There are only four constituent genera, with a total of 19 described species ranging from the United States to Argentina...
is rather different in appearance from the other subfamilies, being large, fast-flying bees with large eyes, resembling some of the larger Colletidae
Colletidae
Colletidae is a family of bees, and are often referred to collectively as plasterer bees or polyester bees, due to the method of smoothing the walls of their nest cells with secretions applied with their mouthparts; these secretions dry into a cellophane-like lining...
.
"Nocturnal" species
Andrenidae is one of the four bee families that contains some species that are crepuscularCrepuscular
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight, that is during dawn and dusk. The word is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, meaning "twilight." Crepuscular is, thus, in contrast with diurnal and nocturnal behavior. Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright...
; these species are active only at dusk or in the early evening, and therefore technically considered "vespertine
Vespertine (biology)
Vespertine is a term used in the life sciences to indicate something of, relating to, or occurring in the evening. In botany, a vespertine flower is one that opens or blooms in the evening. In zoology, the term is used for a creature that becomes active in the evening, such as bats and owls...
". In the Andrenidae, such species occur primarily in the subfamily Panurginae
Panurginae
The bee subfamily Panurginae is a diverse lineage of 33 genera in 7 tribes. They are particularly diverse in the New World, though scarce in the tropics, and in the Old World they can be found primarily in the Palaearctic and Africa, but absent from Australia and tropical Asia...
. These bees, as is typical in such cases, have greatly enlarged ocelli
Ocellus
A simple eye refers to a type of eye design or optical arrangement that contains a single lens which detect light. A "simple eye" is so-called in distinction from a multi-lensed "compound eye", and is not necessarily at all simple in the usual sense of the word...
, though one subgenus of Andrena
Andrena
Andrena is the largest genus in the family Andrenidae, and is nearly worldwide in distribution, with the notable exceptions of Oceania and South America. With over 1,300 species, it is one of the largest of all bee genera...
that is crepuscular has normal ocelli. The other families with some crepuscular species are Halictidae
Halictidae
Halictidae is a cosmopolitan family of the order Hymenoptera consisting of small to midsize bees which are usually dark-colored and often metallic in appearance...
, Colletidae
Colletidae
Colletidae is a family of bees, and are often referred to collectively as plasterer bees or polyester bees, due to the method of smoothing the walls of their nest cells with secretions applied with their mouthparts; these secretions dry into a cellophane-like lining...
, and Apidae
Apidae
The Apidae are a large family of bees, comprising the common honey bees, stingless bees , carpenter bees, orchid bees, cuckoo bees, bumblebees, and various other less well-known groups...
.