Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees » Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees (Apidae) » Honey, Bumble, Longhorn, Orchid, and Digger Bees (Apinae) » Longhorn Bees (Eucerini) » Melissodes » Subgenus Melissodes (Melissodes Subgenus Melissodes) » Common Long-horned Bee (Melissodes communis) » Melissodes communis alopex
Photo#353670
Long-horned Bee on Mustard - Melissodes communis - female
Copyright © 2009 Harsi S. Parker

Long-horned Bee on Mustard - Melissodes communis - Female
Webb Canyon, ~2000 ft. elevation, Los Angeles County, California, USA
June 13, 2009
On one of the unusually cold and overcast days we experienced here in southern California last June, I was able to photograph this motionless bee clinging to a Mustard flower. Hopeful that my photos are good enough for a species ID, but would be happy to at least know the genus. Thanks!

Surrounding habitat is chaparral and mixed oak woodland.

Images of this individual: tag all
Long-horned Bee on Mustard - Melissodes communis - female Long-horned Bee on Mustard - Melissodes communis - female Long-horned Bee on Mustard - Melissodes communis - female
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Harsi S. Parker on 21 November, 2009 - 1:11am
Last updated 22 March, 2010 - 1:13pm

Moved
Moved from Melissodes robustior.
… John S. Ascher, 29 January, 2010 - 3:17pm login or register to post comments

I now think this is Melissodes communis alopex
some of my pinned reference specimens in the AMNH were misdet. leading to my confusion with respect to robustior. Sorry about the mixup.
… John S. Ascher, 29 January, 2010 - 3:17pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you for your diligence in this matter, Dr. Ascher!
Correct species name noted and I will update my records accordingly.

BTW, I think I may also have photographs of a male of this species -- will try to post those soon!
… Harsi S. Parker, 29 January, 2010 - 3:22pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Long-horned bees.
… John S. Ascher, 22 December, 2009 - 9:25pm login or register to post comments

the photos are excellent
appears to be a Melissodes robustior female
… John S. Ascher, 22 December, 2009 - 9:25pm login or register to post comments

 
Oh, how exciting!
Thank you, Dr. Ascher. I was really hoping that this one was identifiable to species. I also appreciate the compliment on my photos -- it helps considerably when the bee is cold and essentially inactive. (*smile*)
… Harsi S. Parker, 22 December, 2009 - 9:51pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Long-horned bees.
… John S. Ascher, 21 November, 2009 - 10:44am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John S. Ascher, 21 November, 2009 - 10:44am login or register to post comments

Eucerini
female
… John S. Ascher, 21 November, 2009 - 9:27am login or register to post comments

 
Critical shots?
Thanks (as always) for your ID, Dr. Ascher! Are there perhaps any other photos I could provide which would allow you to narrow down your ID?
… Harsi S. Parker, 21 November, 2009 - 8:46pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact