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Family Megachilidae Latreille, 72 taxa

    General features of this family of bees include the following: Long-tongued bees, rectangular labrum that is longer than broad and broadly articulated to the clypeus (Michener 2000). Other features that help distinguish the Megachilidae in the Southeastern U.S. are the lack of a basitibial plate (except in Lithurgus), 2 submarginal cells in the wing with the second submarginal rather long. The metasomal sterna have scopa present except in the parasitic forms. The scopa typically found on the hind legs of other bees is absent. 

    The family Megachilidae is well represented in Florida. One subfamily, the Megachilinae is found in Florida with four tribes.

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