Two-spotted Longhorn Bee

Melissodes bimaculatus

The Two-spotted Longhorn Bee is a small, fuzzy bee with two distinct spots on its back. These friendly bees love to visit flowers and help plants grow by spreading pollen.

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

The Two-spotted Longhorn Bee is a medium-sized bee, typically dark brown to black with a fuzzy, golden-yellow thorax and a black abdomen. Females have two distinct white or pale yellow spots on the abdomen, and males possess exceptionally long, curved antennae that can be as long as their body.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenHymenopteraFamiliaApidaeGéneroMelissodes

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Its scientific name, 'bimaculatus,' means 'two-spotted,' referring to the female's distinctive markings!

Male longhorn bees have antennae nearly as long as their body!

They are speedy pollinators, loving sunflowers and coneflowers in summer!

Unlike honeybees, each female digs her own cozy underground nest!

Habilidades especiales

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee can carry large loads of pollen because of dense, branched hairs on their hind legs called scopa.

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee can build individual nests by digging burrows in the soil that helps protect their young from predators.

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee has a fuzzy body that helps them efficiently transfer pollen between flowers, aiding in plant reproduction.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 15-22 mm
Tamaño: 9-14 mm
Esperanza de vida: 30-60 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 18 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6
Tamaño de la colonia: 1

Dieta y alimentación

They collect sweet nectar for energy and protein-rich pollen to feed their growing young.

Alimentos principales

Flower nectar
Pollen
Sunflower pollen
Aster nectar
Thistle nectar

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

pollinates

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Collects nectar and pollen, aiding its reproduction.

pollinates

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Transfers pollen between flowers, helping the plant spread seeds.

pollinates

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Feeds on nectar, carrying pollen from flower to flower.

eaten by

Yellow Garden Spider

Argiope aurantia

Often caught in the web of this common garden spider.

eaten by

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

A tasty snack for this colorful bird when foraging.

Rasgos

Peludo

Peludo describe a los animales que poseen una cubierta densa de pelo o pelaje suave.

Manchado

Marcado con manchas o parches de un color diferente.

Social

Los animales sociales viven en grupos organizados, cooperando para obtener beneficios de supervivencia como la búsqueda de alimento, la defensa y la cría de descendencia.