The genus Tetrapedia contains approximately 13 species of small apid bees occurring in the Neotropics (from Mexico to Argentina), and they are unusual in possessing adaptations for carrying floral oils rather than (or in addition to) pollen or nectar. The floral oils are typically gathered from plants of the family Malpighiaceae,[1] though other plants may be visited. They also gather plant resins for use in nest cell construction, sometimes mixed with sand.[2]
| Tetrapedia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Tetrapedia sp. (female) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Tribe: | Tetrapediini |
| Genus: | Tetrapedia Klug, 1810 |
| Species | |
|
~13 species | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Tetrapedium Berthold, 1827 | |
They are small bees (8–13 mm), generally black in color, though they may have yellow faces.
References
edit- ^ Cappellari, Simone C.; Melo, Gabriel A. R.; Aguiar, Antonio J. C.; Neff, John L. (1 January 2012). "Floral oil collection by male Tetrapedia bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Tetrapediini)". Apidologie. 43 (1): 39–50. doi:10.1007/s13592-011-0072-2. ISSN 1297-9678. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Camillo, Evandro (June 2005). "Nesting biology of four Tetrapedia species in trap-nests (Hymenoptera:Apidae:Tetrapediini)". Revista de Biología Tropical. 53 (1–2): 175–186. ISSN 0034-7744. PMID 17354430.