Species Euglossa dilemma - Dilemma Orchid Bee

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Orchid bee in flight - 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)

Works Cited

1.	The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America's Bees. Joseph S. Wilson & Olivia J. Messinger Carril. 2015. Princeton University Press.

2.	Ascher J.S., Pickering J. (2024) Discover Life bee species guide and world checklist (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)

3.	University of Florida: Featured Creatures

Contributed by Martin Hauser on 11 May, 2006 - 12:18pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, John S. Ascher, v belov, hg, Marci Hess
Last updated 23 October, 2023 - 9:41am

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