Euglossa
Encyclopedia
Euglossa is a genus
of orchid bees (Euglossini
). Like all their close relatives, they are native to the Neotropics; an introduced population exists in Florida
. They are typically bright metallic blue, green, coppery, or golden.
Euglossa intersecta (formerly known as E. brullei) is morphologically and chromatically atypical for the genus, and resembles the related Eufriesea
in a number of characters including coloration.
to Paraguay
, northern Argentina
and Jamaica
, but one species (E. viridissima) has recently been introduced to Florida
in the United States http://www.fcla.edu/FlaEnt/fe88p225.pdf.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of orchid bees (Euglossini
Euglossini
Euglossine bees, also called orchid bees, are the only group of corbiculate bees whose non-parasitic members do not all possess eusocial behavior. Most of the species are solitary, though a few are communal, or exhibit simple forms of eusociality...
). Like all their close relatives, they are native to the Neotropics; an introduced population exists in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. They are typically bright metallic blue, green, coppery, or golden.
Euglossa intersecta (formerly known as E. brullei) is morphologically and chromatically atypical for the genus, and resembles the related Eufriesea
Eufriesea
Eufriesea is a genus of euglossine bees. Like all orchid bees, they are restricted to the Neotropics.They are of metallic or brown/black color and hairy.-Distribution:...
in a number of characters including coloration.
Distribution
Euglossa occurs naturally from MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, northern Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, but one species (E. viridissima) has recently been introduced to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the United States http://www.fcla.edu/FlaEnt/fe88p225.pdf.
Species
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Further reading
(1989): Ecology and natural history of tropical bees. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press. (2004): Phylogeny and Biology of Neotropical Orchid Bees (Euglossini). Annual Review of Entomology 49: 377-404.External links
- David Roubik (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute): Diagnostic photographs of several Euglossa species