Megachilidae
Big-lipped bees
The Megachilidae
The Megachilidae are the largest family of bees worldwide, with more than 7,000 species described thus far. Their principal distinction is how they collect and transport pollen. While the Apidae have scopae and corbiculae on their legs (pollen combs and baskets), Megachilidae have a dense hairy patch on the ventral (lower) surfaces of their abdomen, to which pollen sticks as the bee walks over anthers. Meagchilidae are most likely seen on composite flowers and umbels, rather than bell-shaped “head first” flowers.
The various Tribes of Megachilidae differ in the ways they build their solitary underground nests. The Osmini dig tunnels and plaster them over with mud. The Megachilini glue together overlapping tiles snipped out of fresh green leaves. And the Anthidini weave plant fibers into the walls of their nests, like cotton batting.
Megachile frigida, Iceberg Point, Lopez Island
