longhorn bee ID - Ask Extension
I have been seeing these bees in July on composite flowers in my garden in Eugene in July.
iNaturalist suggested it is a longhorn bee - can it be I...
Knowledgebase
longhorn bee ID #840801
Asked July 15, 2023, 11:47 AM EDT
I have been seeing these bees in July on composite flowers in my garden in Eugene in July.
iNaturalist suggested it is a longhorn bee - can it be ID'd to genus or species?
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Evelyn,
The genus is Melissodes. There are reported to be 25 or more species of this genus in the Willamette Valley. Without physical specimens and magnification, that is a close as I can get.
Here are two identification guides to help you. The Oregon Department of Ag, "Common Bee Pollinators of Oregon Crops". The information on Melissodes is on page 17.
This next guide I found on the Oregon State Beekeepers Association website, "The Bees of the Willamette Valley: A Comprehensive Guide to Genera" by August Jackson. This is a very detailed guide. You will need to capture and kill the bees in alcohol or by freezing so you can examine them closely.
Enjoy your quest to learn about the pollinators visiting your yard.
The genus is Melissodes. There are reported to be 25 or more species of this genus in the Willamette Valley. Without physical specimens and magnification, that is a close as I can get.
Here are two identification guides to help you. The Oregon Department of Ag, "Common Bee Pollinators of Oregon Crops". The information on Melissodes is on page 17.
This next guide I found on the Oregon State Beekeepers Association website, "The Bees of the Willamette Valley: A Comprehensive Guide to Genera" by August Jackson. This is a very detailed guide. You will need to capture and kill the bees in alcohol or by freezing so you can examine them closely.
Enjoy your quest to learn about the pollinators visiting your yard.
