Melissodes desponsus

Melissodes desponsus, the eastern thistle longhorn bee, is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae. The bees are active in mid-to-late-summer.

Melissodes desponsus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Apidae
Genus:	Melissodes
Species:	M. desponsus
Binomial name
Melissodes desponsus Smith, 1854

Description

These ground-nesting, solitary bees have pale yellow thoraxes and black abdomens. Females are 12-13.5 mm and have distinctive orange scopae on their hind legs, although they are often covered with white Cirsium pollen. Males are 11-13.5 mm, have longer antennae and yellow clypei.

Range

Melissodes desponsus is found across the northeastern quadrant of the United States, reaching into southern Canada.

Habitat

Cirsium thistles are host plants of these bees.

Conservation

This species does not have a widely documented conservation status, although it is listed as vulnerable or imperiled by several regional sources.

Taxonomy

The species has several synonymous scientific names. The female of the species was described as M. desponsa and the male was described as M. nigripes in 1854 by Frederick Smith. Other synonyms include M. americana, M. daponsa and M. cnici.