# Melissodes Melissodes are buzzing bees that love to visit flowers! They help plants grow by spreading pollen while they collect nectar to make honey. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Melissodes](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Melissodes_desponsa_f.jpg&width=800) Photo: USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melissodes_desponsa_f.jpg) ## Appearance The Melissodes is a medium-sized, often fuzzy bee, frequently sporting bands of black and yellow or brown on its abdomen. Males are easily identified by their distinctively long antennae, which extend nearly the length of their body, unlike most other bees. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Melissodes ## Interesting facts - Each female bee digs her own private burrow in the ground to lay eggs and store pollen. - Males have antennae almost as long as their whole body, earning them the nickname 'long-horned bees'! - Some Melissodes males will sleep inside flowers at night, taking a cozy nap! - They are especially important pollinators for sunflowers and other daisy-family plants. ## Special abilities - **Super Sensors:** Melissodes males have extra-long antennae that help them detect female pheromones from a distance. - **Pollen Power:** Melissodes has a dense fuzzy coat that helps them collect and transport lots of pollen from flowers. - **Deep Drinker:** Melissodes can reach nectar in deep flowers because of their long tongues, called proboscises. - **Burrow Builder:** Melissodes can dig individual nests in the soil, which helps protect their eggs and food stores. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 15-30 mm - **Size:** 7-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Melissodes bees fuel up on sweet nectar and gather protein-rich pollen from various flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Sunflowers, Asters, Goldenrod, Coneflowers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Sunflower (*Helianthus annuus*) — Crucial for sunflower seed production. - **Pollinates:** Smooth Blue Aster (*Aster laevis*) — Helps aster plants reproduce. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Birds can catch foraging bees. - **Parasitizes:** Cuckoo Bee (*Coelioxys rufitarsis*) — Lays eggs in Melissodes nests. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Stay calm and still if you see a bee. They usually won't bother you if you don't bother them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Melissodes? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Melissodes's wingspan? 15-30 mm ### How big is Melissodes? 7-15 mm ### How long does Melissodes live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Melissodes fly? 15 km/h ### What does Melissodes eat? Melissodes bees fuel up on sweet nectar and gather protein-rich pollen from various flowers. ### Where is Melissodes usually found? Grasslands ### How does Melissodes hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [El Dorado Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-dorado-park) — Florida, US · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Melissodes: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/melissodes)