Apidae

Tribe Emphorini (2 taxa)

Two genera are found in Florida, Melitoma and Ptilothrix.

1. Second segment of labial palpus 1.1-3.0 times as long as first and 0.95 times eye length; proboscis in repose reaching well beyond front coxae and usually surpassing middle coxae…Melitoma

Second segment of labial palpus shorter, 0.5-0.8 times as long as first, and usually shorter (0.3-0.6 times) than eye; proboscis in repose reaching at most front coxae…Ptilothrix

 

Genus Melitoma Lepeletier and Serville, one taxon

Apidae: Melitoma taurea Say

County Records: Alachua, Escambia, Hardee, Leon, Madison, Marion, Orange.

Locations: Winter Park, Zolfo Springs

Dates: May 6-Oct. 6; May: 1, June: 1, July: 3, Aug: 1, Sept.:1, Oct: 1

Plants: Ipomoea microdactyla

Notes: nesting in clay soils in Winter Park, oligolectic on Ipomoea species; Michener reports that most species of this genus nest in aggregations of hard clay banks

Female:

Male:

Genus Ptilothrix Smith, one taxon

Apidae: Ptilothrix bombiformis Cresson

County Records: Alachua, Escambia, Gadsden, Leon

Locations:

Dates: June 21-Aug. 23; July: 3, Aug: 4

Plants: Oligolege primarily on Hibiscus

Notes: ground-nesting species