Eucerini

Genus Melissodes, fifteen taxa

Three subgenera of Melissodes are found in Florida, including subgenus Apomelissodes (2 taxa), Eumelissodes (8 taxa) and Melissodes (5 taxa).

1. Scopal hairs simple, or if weakly branched, then clypeus in profile protruding in front of eye by at least two-thirds width of eye, as seen in lateral view (pygidial plate not narrow and broad tergal hair bands)…M. (Apomelissodes)

Scopal hairs branched, usually abundantly so, but if weakly branched, then clypeus in profile not protruding in front of eye by as much as two-thirds width of eye, as seen in lateral view. .M. (Eumelissodes and Melissodes).

1. Clypeus protuberant in front of face for one-half to three-fourths of eye width, as seen in lateral view and antenna long, minimum length of first flagellar segment less than one-third maximum length of second segment; T2 to T5 fringed with narrow apical bands of appressed white pubescence, bands much narrower than basal areas if present…M. (Apomelissodes)

Clypeus usually not protruding in front of eye by as much as half of eye width or more, as seen in side view, or, if protruding by half of eye width or more, then minimum length of first flagellar segment one-third or more of maximum length of second segment; terga often not fringed by apical pubescent bands, bands when present interrupted medially and/or preapical…2

2. Median apical lobes of S7 without hairs on ventral surfaces, usually small, curled ventrally along an oblique axis to form half or more of an oblique cylinder or scroll, but often secondarily flattened and expanded, or secondarily reduced in size. .M. (Melissodes)

Median apical lobes of S7 thin, hyaline, with short to moderately long hairs on ventral surfaces, not curled ventrally, relatively large…M. (Eumelissodes)