Stenotritidae

Stenotritidae
Ctenocolletes tigris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Superfamily: Apoidea
Family: Stenotritidae
Genera

Ctenocolletes
Stenotritus

The Stenotritidae are the smallest of all formally recognized bee families, with only 21 species in two genera, all of them restricted to Australia. Historically, they were generally considered to belong in the family Colletidae, but the stenotritids are presently considered their sister taxon, and deserving of family status.[1] Of prime importance is the stenotritids have unmodified mouthparts, whereas colletids are separated from all other bees by having bilobed glossae.

They are large, densely hairy, fast-flying bees, which make simple burrows in the ground and firm, ovoid provision masses in cells lined with a waterproof secretions. The larvae do not spin cocoons.

Species

Ctenocolletes

Stenotritus

References

  1. Danforth, B.N., Sipes, S., Fang, J., Brady, S.G. (2006) The history of early bee diversification based on five genes plus morphology. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103: 15118-15123.