In Minnesota, there are twenty-five described species within the genus Melissodes. All of these species nest in the ground. The majority (twenty-three species) are pollen specialists of plants in the family Asteraceae except for one species, Melissodes apicautus, that specializes on pollen of aquatic plants in the genus Pontederia (pickerelweed). Melissodes are robustly shaped with broad abdomens. They are medium-sized, ranging in length from 6 to 18 mm (0.25 to 0.7 inches). Males have very long antennae, and females have long pollen-collecting hairs on their hind leg tibia and basitarsus.

Collectively, Melissodes are active from late June until October. Bees in the genus Melissodes resemble bees in the genera Eucera and Epimelissodes. These genera can be difficult to tell apart. However, in Minnesota, Melissodes is the most commonly observed genus of these three genera, and most Eucera are active earlier in the growing season. Melissodes have teardrop shaped or tapered tegulae whereas Eucera have oval tegulae. Melissodes are usually smaller than Epimelissodes.