Cuckoo-leaf-cutter Bee (Coelioxys sp.)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Cuckoo-leaf-cutter Bee (Coelioxys sp.)

Male.

“Coelioxys, a genus within the leafcutting bee family, are kleptoparasites (they lay their eggs in the nests of other leafcutter bees and the young “steal” all of the stored pollen).” source: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/leafcutting_bees.htm

“Adults take nectar at flowers. (They must be eating for themselves, because they do not provision a nest.)”

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/7605

Key: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/coelioxys1.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

Species possibilities include Eight-toothed Cuckoo-leaf-cutter (Coelioxys octodentatus) or Say’s Cuckoo-leaf-cutter (Coelioxys sayi)
https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Coelioxys

###

Perplexing Rotund-Resin Bee (Anthidiellum perplexum)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Perplexing Rotund-Resin Bee (Anthidiellum perplexum)

Family Megachilidae – Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies
Subfamily Megachilinae
Tribe Anthidiini

Learn: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3493170?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents)

Learn: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/Intro.htm

Key: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/anthidiellum.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: TALL ELEPHANTSFOOT (Elephantopus elatus)

###

Brown-winged Striped-Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens) female

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Brown-winged Striped-Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens) female

A member of the Halictidae family. also referred to as sweat bees. This one is female.

“Adult halictids eat nectar, and collect nectar and pollen for the larvae. All halictids are mass provisioners, that is, the adults provision each cell with all the food (pollen and nectar) a larva will need until it emerges.” source: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in897

Learn to identify: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Agapostemon+splendens

Key: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/agapostemon.htm

Male: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2019/07/15/brown-winged-striped-sweat-bee-agapostemon-splendens-3/

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PAINTEDLEAF; FIRE-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN (Poinsettia cyathophora)

###

Brown-winged Striped-Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Brown-winged Striped-Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens)

A member of the Halictidae family. also referred to as sweat bees. This one is male.

“Adult halictids eat nectar, and collect nectar and pollen for the larvae. All halictids are mass provisioners, that is, the adults provision each cell with all the food (pollen and nectar) a larva will need until it emerges.” source: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in897

Learn to identify: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Agapostemon+splendens

Key: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/agapostemon.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

###

Small Carpenter Bee (Ceratina sp.)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY:  Small Carpenter Bee (Ceratina sp.)

Small Carpenter Bee (Ceratina sp.)

Tiny pollinator.  Nests in the pith of broken or burned plant twigs and stems.  Another reason to leave some plant debris and not be overly tidy in the garden.

Learn: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in258

key: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/ceratinini.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: TICKSEED (Coreopsis sp.)

Small Carpenter Bee (Ceratina sp.)

###

Brown-winged Striped-Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Brown-winged Striped-Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens)

A member of the Halictidae family. also referred to as sweat bees. This one is female.

“Adult halictids eat nectar, and collect nectar and pollen for the larvae. All halictids are mass provisioners, that is, the adults provision each cell with all the food (pollen and nectar) a larva will need until it emerges.” source: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in897

Learn to identify: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Agapostemon+splendens

Key: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/agapostemon.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

###

Cuckoo-leaf-cutter Bee (Coelioxys sp. possibly mexicana)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Cuckoo-leaf-cutter Bee (Coelioxys sp. possibly mexicana)

Cuckoo-leaf-cutter Bee (Coelioxys sp. possibly mexicana)

The red legs leads me to believe it is a Mexican Cuckoo-leaf-cutter (Coelioxys mexicanus)

“Coelioxys, a genus within the leafcutting bee family, are kleptoparasites (they lay their eggs in the nests of other leafcutter bees and the young “steal” all of the stored pollen).” source: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/leafcutting_bees.htm

“Adults take nectar at flowers. (They must be eating for themselves, because they do not provision a nest.)”

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/7605

Learn more: https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Coelioxys+mexicana

Key: https://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/coelioxys.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PINEBARREN GOLDENROD (Solidago fistulosa) 

###

Brown-winged Striped-Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Brown-winged Striped-Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens)

Agapostemon splendens female

In the sweat bee family (Halictidae).  a.k.a. Metallic Green Bee

Shown on Florida Native Plant: CUBAN JUTE; INDIAN HEMP (Sida rhombifolia)

Learn: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/agapostemon.htm

Learn more: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Agapostemon+splendens

###

 

Carpenter-mimic Leaf-cutter Bee (Megachile xylocopoides)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Carpenter-mimic Leaf-cutter Bee (Megachile xylocopoides)

Black Leaf Cutter Bee

Subgenus Melanosarus.

Solitary native bee which uses patches from leaves to create nests. Similar in look to a carpenter bee, the leafcutters carry pollen on their abdomen rather than in leg baskets. Also, serves as a host for parasitic bees.

Learn: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Megachile+xylocopoides#Hosts

Key: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/melanosarus.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant:  OAKLEAF FLEABANE (Erigeron quercifolius)

###

Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY:  Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens)

New species for my list.

Learn:  http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/bumble_bees.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Aster (Symphyotrichum sp.)

###

Metallic Green Bee (Agapostemon splendens)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Metallic Green Bee (Agapostemon splendens)

In the sweat bee family (Halictidae). Female:

Shown on Florida Native Plant: ASTER (Symphyotrichum spp.)

Learn: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/agapostemon.htm
Learn more: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Agapostemon+splendens

###

Male on Bidens alba:

Small Carpenter Bee (Ceratina sp. possibly dupla or C. floridana)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY:  Small Carpenter Bee (Ceratina sp. possibly dupla or C. floridana)

Tiny pollinator.  Nests in the pith of broken or burned plant twigs and stems.  Another reason to leave some plant debris and not be overly tidy in the garden.

Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/ceratina.htm

The above literature only lists 2 species for Florida. The following adds more so this may well be considered: C. floridana

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/ceratinini.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: QUEEN-DEVIL (Hieracium gronovii) aka Hawkweed

###

Leaf-Cutter Bee (Megachile sp.)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Leaf-Cutter Bee (Megachile sp.)

This was initially misidentified as a Cuckoo-leaf-cutter Bee (Coelioxys sp.). See the comment section below regarding the correction.

Pollinator.

Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/leafcutting_bees.htm

https://bugguide.net/node/view/174139

Key: https://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/litomegachile.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

###

Southern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa micans)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Southern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa micans)

build nests in twigs. The purplish hue is a key element to the identification of this species.

Learn: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN25700.pdf

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

###

American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus)

Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/bumble_bees.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: GIANT IRONWEED (Vernonia gigantea)

Key: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/bombini.htm

###

Cuckoo-leaf-cutter Bee (Coelioxys sp.)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Cuckoo-leaf-cutter Bee (Coelioxys sp.)

“Coelioxys, a genus within the leafcutting bee family, are kleptoparasites (they lay their eggs in the nests of other leafcutter bees and the young “steal” all of the stored pollen).” source: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/leafcutting_bees.htm

“Adults take nectar at flowers. (They must be eating for themselves, because they do not provision a nest.)”

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/7605

Key: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/coelioxys1.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: WINGED LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum alatum var. lanceolatum)

###

Leaf-cutter Bee (Anthidiellum sp. probably perplexum)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Leaf-cutter Bee (Anthidiellum sp. probably perplexum)

This was initially misidentified as A. notatum rufimaculatum.

Learn: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3493170?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents)

Learn: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/Intro.htm

Key: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/anthidiellum.htm

see similar here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/123675

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

###

Sculptured Resin Bee (Megachile sculpturalis)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Sculptured Resin Bee (Megachile sculpturalis)

New to my buggy life list. And if you look closely, there is a crab spider below waiting for the opportunity to snare this BIG guy.

Introduced species from Asia. Apparently arriving in NC in 1994. Affect on native species is being monitored. They
usually nest in vacated tunnels constructed by carpenter bees or holes made in wood by other insects or in hollow stems of bamboo, small spaces between boards of buildings, etc. Since they don’t create any damage themselves they are not really a considered a pest to humans.

Learn: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Other/note110.html
http://bugguide.net/node/view/15541

Shown on Florida Native Plant: WINGED LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum alatum var. lanceolatum)

###

Carpenter-mimic Leaf-cutter Bee (Megachile xylocopoides)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Carpenter-mimic Leaf-cutter Bee (Megachile xylocopoides)

Solitary native bee which uses patches from leaves to create nests. Similar in look to a carpenter bee, the leafcutters carry pollen on their abdomen rather than in leg baskets. Also, serves as a host for parasitic bees.

Learn: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Megachile+xylocopoides#Hosts

Key: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/HallG/Melitto/floridabees/melanosarus.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: BIDENS ALBA

###

Sweat Bee (Halictus poeyi)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Sweat Bee (Halictus poeyi)

One of the NATIVE non-metallic bees. Tiny. As can be seen by the legs, gathers quite a bit of pollen.

“Sweat bees are very important pollinators for many wildflowers and crops, including stone fruits, pomme fruits, alfalfa and sunflower. Sweat bee populations can be encouraged with wildflower plantings and by providing nesting areas. Halictids typically nest in bare soil located in a sunny location. Minimum tillage and insecticide use will help to increase populations of Halictidae and other soil nesting bees.”

Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/halictid_bees.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Spanish Needles (Bidens alba)

###