| Hylaeus modestus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A male Hylaeus modestus, a masked bee found in the new gardens of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Colletidae |
| Genus: | Hylaeus |
| Species: | H. modestus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hylaeus modestus Say, 1837 | |
Hylaeus modestus, also known as the modest masked bee, is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America. [1] [2]
These two subspecies belong to the species Hylaeus modestus:
Hylaeus modestus was discovered to have a special secretion that they produce from their Dufour's gland that they use to aid the growth of their larvae as the secretion has a unique chemical compound containing high concentrations of ethyl ester, which is only found in the secretions of Hylaeus modestus, to provide extra nutrition to the larvae as the larvae feed on the secretions placed on the cell walls of their brood chambers so they can have the energy needed to pupate and become adults before the other bee species out-compete them for resources.[ citation needed ]
The Colletidae are a family of bees, and are often referred to collectively as plasterer bees or polyester bees, due to the method of smoothing the walls of their nest cells with secretions applied with their mouthparts; these secretions dry into a cellophane-like lining. The five subfamilies, 54 genera, and over 2000 species are all evidently solitary, though many nest in aggregations. Two of the subfamilies, Euryglossinae and Hylaeinae, lack the external pollen-carrying apparatus that otherwise characterizes most bees, and instead carry the pollen in their crops. These groups, and most genera in this family, have liquid or semiliquid pollen masses on which the larvae develop.
Hylaeus is a large and diverse cosmopolitan genus within the bee family Colletidae. This genus is also known as the yellow-faced bees or masked bees. This genus is the only truly globally distributed colletid, occurring on all continents except Antarctica.
Hylaeus alcyoneus, commonly known as the banksia bee, is a bee species endemic to Australia where it is commonly found in the coastal heaths of eastern and southern Western Australia. This bee is an important pollinator of Banksia species.
Hylaeus episcopalis is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Hylaeus affinis is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Hylaeus panamensis is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Hylaeus leptocephalus is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is native to the Palearctic but can, since 1912, also be found in North America.
Hylaeus polifolii is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Hylaeus ornatus is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Hylaeus punctatus is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Hylaeus basalis is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Hylaeus calvus is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Hylaeus verticalis is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Hylaeus schwarzii is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Hylaeus mesillae is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Hylaeus annulatus, is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America and Europe.
Hylaeus graenicheri is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America. The species is one of five in the family Colletidae that are endemic to Florida, and is only found in the southern portion of the state.
Hylaeus hyalinatus is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It can be found in Europe, including Great Britain. It is an invasive species in North America.
Hylaeus relegatus is a bee species in the family Colletidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and was first described by Frederick Smith. It is the largest and most common species of this genus in that country. H. relegatus can be found throughout the three main islands of New Zealand and visits the flowers of a wide variety of plant species, both native and introduced. Although widespread, this species is not abundant at any one particular location. It has been hypothesised that human made nest sites can be used to increase its numbers.
Hylaeus nigritus, also known as the black masked bee, is a species of solitary bee native to much of Europe, with sightings and preserved specimens recorded as far east as Nizhny Novgorod, Russia and the Caucuses.
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