Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Includes Doeringiella sensu Michener (2000)
Numbers
108 spp. in our area, 147 spp. worldwide/total
(2)Range
holarctic + neotropical (
map)
(2)Food
parasitic on
Melissodes and possibly some of the other related eucerines
Remarks
Differences in the shape of the pygidial plate are used for generic ID of males (shorter and broadly rounded in Epeolus; narrower and with sinuate margins in Triepeolus). This can be difficult to see even in pinned specimens, so many males were described in the wrong genus, even by Cockerell and Mitchell! In females the obvious difference is the extent and configuration of a hair patch called the pseudopygidial area (shorter and more transverse in Epeolus). These hairs are often appressed and silvery or golden.