Superfamily Apoidea Subfamily Diphaglossinae Rank Genus | Suborder Apocrita Scientific name Ptiloglossa Order Hymenopterans | |
Similar Bee, Colletidae, Hymenopterans, Caupolicana, Apoidea | ||
Ptiloglossa is a small genus within the bee family Colletidae, that is endemic to the Americas.
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Distribution
The species of Ptiloglossa are most diverse (30 or more species) in South America and the Central America region of North America.
At least one species, Ptiloglossa arizonensis, occurs in the Southwestern United States.
Description
Ptiloglossa consists of generally large, hairy species which are temporally-specialized crepuscular pollinators. They are active only at: sundown (vespertine); or more typically at pre-dawn (matinal). They often utilize a pollen-extraction behavior known as buzz pollination.
They have greatly enlarged ocelli to assist them in flying under very low light levels.
Like most colletids (Colletidae), these bees have liquid larval provisions sealed inside a membranous, cellophane-like cell lining, and it is believed that yeasts in the liquid may act as the primary protein source.