Apidae: Long-Horned Bees (Melissodes and Eucera)

categories: Apidae Bees Pollinators

last review date: 2026-04-26 08:42

Biology

Long-horned bees are common with more than 120 species in North America. Males have much longer antennae than females.

Robust and hairy, they are moderate-sized bees (0.3-0.8 inches long) with conspicuously hairy rear legs. Faces are often yellow while abdomens are usually dark-colored and may have bands of pale hair.

The female carries dry pollen in large, conspicuous scopae on the lower half of her rear legs.

Long-horned bees are solitary nesters in the ground where they construct individual nests containing brood cells lined with a wax-like material, each holding one egg and a pollen ball. The nests may be isolated or constructed in groups.

Melissodes are important pollinators of sunflowers, daisies and asters.

Attracting and Keeping Natural Enemies
and Pollinators in Your Yard and Garden

• Avoid regular use of synthetic, broad-spectrum pesticides.
• Infrequent use of certain narrow-spectrum pesticides is more compatible with some beneficials but generally the less chemical inputs there are, the greater and more diverse the beneficial insect community will be.
• Extensive lawns are also not conducive to attracting and retaining a diversity of beneficial insects, mites and spiders. Minimize lawn areas and maximize shrub and bush plantings.
• Many beneficials reside naturally in riparian and other ‘natural’ areas near to many back yards. Natural dispersion from these refuges ensures that some beneficials will visit back yards but they will not stay unless food, host and shelter resources are available.
• Native plants have closer affinities with native insects and therefore provide most of these resources. A garden with a good diversity of local native flora in and around back yards, will improve the abundance and diversity of local, beneficial arthropods.
• Native flora also provides natural overwintering sites for many beneficial insects and it is useful to leave at least a small area of native vegetation undisturbed during fall and winter.
• Some kinds of beneficial insects (e.g. lady beetles, lacewings, predatory mites) are available for purchase from commercial suppliers. However, benefits from introducing these beneficials are usually limited and short-lived. Upon release, commercially obtained lady beetles and lacewings often disperse and may rapidly leave your backyard despite the presence of prey and suitable nectar resources. Generally, it is more effective and sustainable to create a garden habitat that will be colonized by beneficials naturally.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• None recommended