Family Apidae > Genus Eucera
Eucera
Long-horn Bees
In Minnesota, there are five described species within the genus Eucera. All nest in the ground and have solitary nests. Three of the five Eucera species in Minnesota have only been recorded once in the state: Eucera aragalli, Eucera dubitata (1922), and Eucera lepida (recent record, MN DNR). Eucera hamata and Eucera atriventris are the most commonly observed species in Minnesota. Eucera are generally active earlier than the similar-looking species in the genera Melissodes and Epimelissodes (Svastra).
Eucera are robustly-shaped, covered in thick hairs, have broad abdomens with continuous hair bands, and a protruding clypeus. Males have very long antennae; females have oval tegulae and collect pollen on long hairs on their hind leg tibia and basitarsus. Bees in this genus range in length from 6 to 19 mm (0.3 to 0.75 inches).
Eucera hamata female
wing
position
on flowers
5
no. species
in MN
size range
Phenology
Genus Characteristics
male
Long glossa (tongue). Males with very long antennae.
female
Female with long pollen-collecting hairs on hind leg tibia and basitarsus.
Distribution
Eucera aragalli
Eucera atriventris
Eucera dubitata
Eucera hamata
Eucera lepida
Eucera Species in Minnesota
Scientific Name | Likely Lecty | Nest |
|---|---|---|
Eucera aragalli | polylectic | ground |
Eucera atriventris | polylectic | ground |
Eucera dubitata | polylectic | ground |
Eucera hamata | polylectic | ground |
Eucera lepida | polylectic | ground |
Lecty/Host Plant Information: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Bee Species List (August 2023).
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/mcbs/mn-statewide-bee-list.pdf
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Citations and Further Reading
Droege, S., Shumar, S., & Maffei, C. (2024). The Very Handy Bee Manual (2.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12812755
Mitchell, T. B. (1960). Bees of the eastern United States. Technical Bulletin No. 141. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station.
Portman, Z. M., Gardner, J., Lane, I. G., Gerjets, N., Petersen, J. D., Ascher, J. S., ... & Cariveau, D. P. (2023). A checklist of the bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Minnesota. Zootaxa, 5304(1), 1-95.
Wilson, J. S., & Messinger Carril, O. J. (2016). The bees in your backyard: a guide to North America's bees. Princeton University Press.
Page Photography Credits
Heather Holm
Nick Dorian CC BY-NC 4.0 (Eucera hamata female)
Steve Mlodinow CC BY-NC 4.0 (Brachymelecta)
Angella Moorehouse (Eucera) used with permission
Michelle Orcutt CC-BY-NC 4.0​ (Epimelissodes female)