Colletes marginatus
Encyclopedia
Colletes marginatus is a species of solitary bee
of the family Colletidae
. The female only gather pollen from flowers of the family Fabaceae
, including species like Trifolium arvense, Melilotus albus
and Melilotus officinalis
.
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...
of the family 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...
. The female only gather pollen from flowers of the family Fabaceae
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
, including species like Trifolium arvense, Melilotus albus
Melilotus albus
Melilotus albus , is a legume sometimes grown for forage. White sweet clover is a major source of nectar for an apiary...
and Melilotus officinalis
Melilotus officinalis
Melilotus officinalis, known as the yellow sweet clover, yellow melilot, ribbed melilot or common melilot is a species of legume native to Eurasia and introduced in North America, Africa and Australia.-Description:...
.