NO OR FEW HAIR FEW OR NO HAIRY
Andrenid
the body the
A Andrena thoracica Andrena
e COLITIDAE furry bees with long hair on most of of most on hair long with bees furry hairs: Long
: spots or bands of short dense hair dense short of bands or spots : hairs hort S
Hylaeus communis Hylaeus hederae Colletes COLITIDAE
surface body the on hairs few only : airless H
Halictus scabiosae scabiosae Halictus
HAIRS
Megachilidae
Lasioglossum malachurum malachurum Lasioglossum HALICTIDAE
Osmia bicornis Osmia
Anthidium manicatum Anthidium
: >13 mm >13 : ig B / mm 8-13 : Medium / mm 4-8 : mall S
Megachile parietina parietina Megachile Megachilidae
E Z SI
Eucera nigrescens; Eucera longicornis Eucera nigrescens; Eucera
Anthophora plumipes Anthophora
more than one class per category may be present. be may category per class one than more
Bombus pascuorum; Bombus terrestris terrestris Bombus pascuorum; Bombus
APIDAE
Ceratina cucurbitina cucurbitina Ceratina
Xylocopa violacea Xylocopa n each morphogenus morphogenus each n I classes. several propose we
APIDAE
Nomada sexfasciata Nomada
Apis mellifera Apis or each of these categories, categories, these of each or F colour. tegument and
(10-20mm) (10-20mm)
(<10mm) (<10mm)
he traits you need to observe at first are size, hairs hairs size, are first at observe to need you traits he T (>20mm) (>20mm)
Medium
Medium
Small Small
Large Large
) TY ILI AB I AR (V s ee b d wil f o on i cat ifi nt e Id
S EE B
effective camouflage effective
) IES L F ( DIPTERA enoptera m y H
high colour diversity colour high
covering hind wings hind covering
forewing forms protective wing cases, cases, wing protective forms forewing
abdomen never with brushes of dense hair dense of brushes with never abdomen
2 pairs of wings, of pairs 2
abdomen, no sting no abdomen, EOPTERA L O C not folded at rest at folded not
without dense hairs, underside of the of underside hairs, dense without
between thorax and and thorax between S LE T EE B / S G BU longer than body than longer slender legs slender
shorter than body than shorter
broad connection connection broad 2 wings 2
or nearly hairless nearly or
2 pairs of wings of pairs 2
thorax with few hair few with thorax
day flying day
can mimic wasps mimic can
compared to flies to compared
4 long, 2 short legs short 2 long, 4 short antennae short
mostly colourful mostly some wasps some
rather smooth body smooth rather longer antennae longer
especially narrow in in narrow especially
distinct narrow waist narrow distinct
S FLIE R VE HO
S P AS W
closed at rest at closed
thin body thin in comparison to flies to comparison in
2 pairs of wings of pairs 2
large eyes large smaller, narrow eyes narrow smaller,
S FLIE R E BUTT
clubbed antennae clubbed
long straight or or straight long
underside of the abdomen the of underside longer than body than longer
legs, no sting no legs,
shorter than body than shorter
of dense hairs present on the the on present hairs dense of 2 wings 2
long and fine hind hind fine and long
2 pairs of wings of pairs 2 if not, sometimes brushes brushes sometimes not, if
night flying night
4 long, 2 short legs short 2 long, 4
with pollen-carying hairs pollen-carying with mostly less colourful less mostly
broader hind legs, often often legs, hind broader
short antennae short
compared to flies to compared
mimics bees mimics
attached, open at rest at open attached,
longer antennae longer
rather hairy body body hairy rather
upper and lower lower and upper
hairy thorax hairy
thick body thick
2 pairs of wings of pairs 2
usually very very usually S FLIE EE B S EE B
OTHS M
in comparison to flies to comparison in
large round eyes round large antennae
smaller esye smaller
short feathery feathery short
optera EPID L
CTS E NS I G N I NAT LLI O P
Why bees? More than one bee Bees are part of the pollinators guild altogether The word “bee” is often referred solely to the honey bee, with butterflies, flies, beetles and other insects. the highly social insect well known to provide the hive All of them play a fundamental role in plant products. However, the honeybee is just one of more reproduction, but bees are a bit special amongst than 2000 bee species in Europe. The so-called wild them. While other pollinators visit flowers only to bees, counting solitary, social and parasitic species, visit feed themselves, female bees collect on flowers flowers and provide some extent of pollination service. the nurture for their well-cared brood. LIFE 4 Pollinators The long bee tongue (ligula) is used to collect nectar from flowers, whilst the long and plumose LIFE 4 Pollinators bees of the Mediterranean hairs are used to gather the pollen grains. However, The aim of the project is to improve pollinator bees make up a surprisingly diverse group in conservation by creating a virtuous circle leading to a shape, color and size. Thus, we can find on flowers progressive change in practices across the Mediterranean almost hairless bees with short ligule, which region. we cannot easily distinguish from the predatory wasps from which they evolved millions of years ago.
Identification tips Assessing the diversity of wild bee is a good mean to evaluate the environmental complexity and resilience. Whenever we find many different bee species, we assume a great floristic diversity and In Mediterranean countries (Spain, Italy, France and an overall healthy ecosystem. Greece) there is inadequate awareness about the role This is a simplified guide, which, based on visible of wild pollinators and the importance of conserving morphological traits only, allows the bees to be their diversity. This knowledge gap is one of the main recognised within 15 morpho-groups and not at obstacles to proper planning of successful programmes the level of individual species to address the main drivers behind pollinator decline Bees species are not easy to identify, but we and ensure sustainable management and restoration of regroup them in few big groups of species called the remaining high-value pollinator habitats. morphogenera defined by few traits. The project wil contribute to a range of EU policy and The traits you need to observe at first are size, legislation, including amongst others the biodiversity hairs and tegument colour. For each of these strategy, the pollinators initiative and biodiversity categories, we propose several classes. In each protection under the common agricultural policy. morphogenus more than one class per category Field Guide may be present. physical & social characteristics Colletes (Colletidae) BODY Hylaeus (Colletidae) Head Face with typical Illustrated species: Ligula is short and Illustrated species: thorax with or without hair and yellow or white Colletes hederae bilobed, wide and Hylaeus communis coloured or black skin (cuticle) antennae flat. Pygidial plate marks BODY forelegs is absent. Thorax Mostly small with thick short Legs sized species, with Wings / CELLS hairs. Tergites with yellow aspotted few hairs. Cutcle forewing 3 cells - Apex of wide apical bands leg joints generally black hind-legs (sometimes marginal cell more of pale coloured or less distant from except yellow spoted hind-wing with pollen basket) hairs. forewing margin anterior thorax tubercles abdomen Wings / CELLS 2 cells - Apex of marginal cell almost terminatng on the forewing margin, pointed or tghtly rounded Body length 13 - 30 mm solitary P parasitic social Body length 4 - 8 mm
Halictus (Halictidae) HEAD Lasioglossum (Halictidae) HEAD Andrena (Andrenidae) HEAD Illustrated species: Head of sub- Illustrated species: Head of sub- Illustrated species: Shape of head is a rounded shape Halictus scabiosae rounded shape Lasioglossum malachurum andrena thoracica subtriangle BODY body body Legs Pygidial plate Metallic hues, with Most species have Wings / CELLS Wings / CELLS Seta for pollen is present and body abundantly black cuticle, but 3 cells - Curved 3 cells collecton are covered by hairy. In medium some species can basal present on the fimbria. Seta for and big species: show metallic hues. vein. tbia of hind pair of pollen collection are abdomen cuticle is black, Generally little hair, legs (scopa) present on the sides of often with pale coloured bands abdomen without bands. Wings / CELLS the propodeus and on the on apical margins of tergites. Body length 4 - 16mm 3 cells - Basal vein is almost trocantera straight or slightly arch-shaped
Body length 4 - 16mm similar genus: Andrena Body length 6 - 16mm
Megachile (Megachilidae) HEAD Osmia (Megachilidae) body Anthidium (Megachilidae) body Strong mandibles, Illustrated species: Illustrated species: Cuticle sometimes with Illustrated species: Cuticle is mostly black mostly 4- or 3- Megachile pilidens Osmia bicornis metallic hues Anthidium manicatum and yellow; only few toothed. with abdominal hairs scopa (pollen brush) with abdominal body scopa. Wings / CELLS First tergites Wings / CELLS Presence of arolia Wings / CELLS Arolia between the 2 cells - Apex of strongly concave between the two leg 2 cells Sm. Apex two leg nails marginal cell more that allows the 2 cells Sm. Apex nails of the marginal cell absen or present. or less distant from insect to elevate the of marginal cell more or less distant from forewing margin. Second abdomen upwards. more or less distant the front edge of the wing. recurrent vein terminates Arolia missing between the from anterior wing margin. Second recurrent vein ending before the second submarginal vein. two leg nails. Second recurrent vein terminates before the second submarginal vein. after the second submarginal vein. Body length 4 - 16mm Body length 8 - 30 mm Body length 4 - 30 mm
Melittidae body For more Apis mellifera (Apidae) body Illustrated species: Abdomen slightly Illustrated species: Little hairy body, flattened, always information on more hair on tho- Melitta Apis mellifera provided with thin, each group, please visit: rax; cuticle with but clearly visible, reddish areas www.life4pollinators.eu/bees Legs sparse hair bands. Legs „Pantalon bee“ Curved at the apex. Hind legs with Common name: Maxillary palps of 2 corbicula HONEY BEE segments. Wings / CELLS Wings / CELLS Second submarginal 3 cells Sm. Marginal cell is cell smaller than the third an elongated ellipse, reaching the wing margin.
Body length 8 - 13mm Body length 13 - 16mm
Xylocopa (Apidae) body Bombus (Apidae) body Antophora (Apidae) body Body cuticle black or Illustrated species: Illustrated species: The whole body is Illustrated species: Noticeable scopa on with metallic hue. Xylocopa violacea Bombus terrestris very hairy with Anthophora plumipes hind pair of legs. black cuticle Whole body very Legs Patterns: black/ Legs hairy, with or hind legs with yellow or white often have without bands, corbicula (pollen and black/red or tufts of hairs of rarely black. orange Wings / CELLS basket) various shapes on the tarsal segments Quick flight. 3 cells. Pigmented wings, Wings / CELLS of the second pair sometmes with purple hue. 3 cells Sm. First submarginal cell split in of legs Wings / CELLS two by a narrow line 3 celle Sm. Body length 13 - 30 mm
Body length 13 - 30 mm Body length 8 - 16mm
Antenna Nomada (Apidae) Ceratina (Apidae) HEAD Eucera (Apidae) Antenna Antennae often at Illustrated species: Illustrated species: Illustrated species: Antennae almost least partally red Face with typical pale Nomada sexfasciata Ceratina cucurbitina yellow mark with an Eucera longicornis as long as the whole body. BODY I shape. Legs Body with few BODY Face with typical Females without hairs. Wide parts Wings / CELLS Wings / CELLS Little hairy body, pale yellow mark pollen brush on of the body with 3 cells Sm. Apex 2 cells Sm. Apex flattened, enlarged with a reverse T shape. hind legs. bright red or bright of marginal cell of marginal abdomen; black yellow cuticle, or black rounded and dis- cell more or less abdomen cuticle with tant from margin Wings / CELLS with white or yellow spots. BODY distant from forewing light bands on the apical 3 cells Sm. Apex of the marginal Most species are small, with few hairs and a margin, pointed or tightly edges of the tergites. cell narrow and pointed, close Similar to wasps! black, green or metallic blue cuticle. rounded. to the front edge of the wing.
Body length 4 - 13mm Body length 8 - 16mm Body length 4 - 16mm P