These are some of the most common members of the Melissodes in Florida, with M. bimaculata bimaculata, M. communis, and M. comptoides found throughout Florida, nearly all year. M. bimaculata nulla is a color variant restricted to extreme SE Florida while M. tepaneca is likely found throughout the panhandle and slightly southward in the northern peninsula. All five species visit a wide range of flowers, but do not appear to collect pollen from members of the Asteraceae as many other Melissodes (Eumelissodes) do. This may explain their much longer period of flight when compared to the mostly fall-flying Eumelissodes.
Males are keyed out below. Females may be keyed out using the key from the subgenus Eumelissodes.
Pubescence of legs entirely pale…2
Pubescence of mid and hind tibiae and basitarsi blackish or fuscous…M. bimaculata nulla
Wings at most faintly yellowish, usually hyaline…M. tepaneca
Scutum and scutellum with considerable fuscous pubescence…M. communis
County Records: Leon, Miami-Dade
Locations: Indian River, Lacooche, Orange City, Sanford, Suwannee Springs, ENP
Dates: January-October
Plants: polylectic; not a big visitor to Asteraceae. Sida sp.
Notes: found throughout Florida
County Records: Miami-Dade, Monroe
Locations: ENP
Dates: Feb.-May
Plants: polylectic; not a big visitor to Asteraceae.
Notes: Endemic subspecies restricted to SE Florida. No photos available-Appears similar to nominal subspecies except in color.
County Records: Alachua, Clay, Escambia, Jefferson, Highlands, Leon, Levy, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Putnam, St. Lucie.
Locations:, Big Pine Key, Bradenton, Bartow, Biscayne Bay, Boca Grade, Camp Crystal, Cedar Key, Centerville, Cocoa, Cocoanut Grove, Coral Gables, Crescent City, Dade City, Daytona, Englewood, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Ft. Pierce, Gainesville, Goulds, Homestead, Indian River, Jacksonville, Key Largo, Key West, Lacoochee, Lake Okeechobee, Larkins, Long Key, Marco, Matheson Hammock, Miami, Miami Beach, Naples, Naranja, No Name Key, Paradise Key, Parrish, Perry, Punta Gorda, Royal Palm Hammock, Royal Palm State Park, Sanford, Sanibel Island, South Bay, Stock Island, , South Miami, Suwannee Springs, Tamaiami Trail, Titusville, Torreya ravine, Upper Matecumbe Key, Warren’s Cave, Winter Park
Dates: March-October
Plants: polylectic, not a big visitor to composites, prefers legumes. Tetragonetheca helianthoides, Chrysobalanus oblongifolius,
Notes: Occurs throughout Florida. Along with M. comptoides, very common.
County Records: Jefferson, Leon, Levy, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Santa Rosa, St. Lucie
Locations: Bradentown, Cocoa, Cedar Key, Estero, Lacooche, Miami Beach, Pensacola, Punta Rasa, Royal Palm Hammock, Royal Palm State Park, Sanibel, Suwannee Springs, Swan, Vero Beach
Dates: April-October
Plants: polylectic, not composites. Sida sp.
Notes: occurs throughout Florida
County Records: Escambia, Leon
Locations: Pensacola, Tall Timbers Research Station
Dates: June-October
Plants: polylectic, does not appear use Asteraceae for pollen.
Notes: Externally, nearly indistinguishable from some specimens of M. comptoides. Wing membranes are clear, not infumate; in females, apical punctures of tergum 2 are finer; clypeus has shallower punctures and more dense shagreening ground areas. Males can be identified on the basis of male terminalia characters. Likely occurs only in panhandle of Florida based on map in LaBerge.
