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TaxonomyBrowse
Info
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Species Euglossa dilemma - Dilemma Orchid Bee

Green Bee? - Euglossa dilemma - female Orchid bee - Euglossa dilemma - female Orchid Bee - Euglossa dilemma Green Bee - Euglossa dilemma - female Halictidae? - Euglossa dilemma - female Orchid bee in flight - Euglossa dilemma - male Orchid bee - Euglossa dilemma - female Orchid Bee - Euglossa dilemma - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
No Taxon (Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees)
Family Apidae (Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees)
Subfamily Apinae (Honey, Bumble, Longhorn, Orchid, and Digger Bees)
Tribe Euglossini (Orchid Bees)
Genus Euglossa (Typical Orchid Bees)
Species dilemma (Dilemma Orchid Bee)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
A cryptic species formerly misidentified as E. viridissima
Explanation of Names
Euglossa dilemma Bembé & Eltz 2011
Identification
Brilliant metallic green with "inflated" hind legs; tongue nearly as long as body(1)orig. description (Eltz et al. 2011)
Range
Native to Mesoamerica, adventive in FL [map](2)
Food
Recorded on Cheilocostus and Datura
Life Cycle
Males visit particular species of neotropical orchids and use the fragrance in courtship. Nests have up to 20 cells.
Remarks
First identified as E. viridissima, but further study revealed that E. viridissima as previously defined consisted of two cryptic species, and the one present in Florida was yet unnamed.
Internet References
species profile (Mullins 2013)(3)species page(2)