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Apidae - long-tongued bees

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Bumble, digger, and related bees

The Apidae family is the largest family of bees in the world and includes many of the bees that most people recognize - such as honey bees (which are not native to Washington) and bumble bees. Other notable groups within this family are the digger bees (genera Anthophora and Habropoda) and long horn bees (genera Epimelissodes, Eucera, and Melissodes). All bees in this family all have long tongues, enabling them to reach nectar in long, tubular flowers. 

Bee size
  • Small to very large
Known number of species in Washington
  • 151
Apidae genera in Washington
  • Anthophora
  • Apis
  • Bombus
  • Brachymelecta
  • Ceratina
  • Diadasia
  • Epeolus
  • Epimelissodes
  • Eucera
  • Habropoda
  • Melecta
  • Melissodes
  • Nomada
  • Oreopasites
  • Triepeolus
  • Xylocopa
  • Zacosmia
Characteristics
  • Long tongues
  • Carry pollen on legs, sometimes in "pollen baskets" (honey bees and bumble bees) 

Anthophora pacifica

Photo by Peter Abrahamsen

Bombus flavifrons

Photo by Aidan Hersh

Eucera

Photo by Kris Ethington

Diadasia

Photo by Aidan Hersh

Epimelissodes obliqua

Photo by Lisa Robinson

Nomada

Photo by Jane Abel

Habropoda miserabilis

Photo by Kris Ethington

Ceratina

Photo by Jane Abel

Want to see more?

Check out Washington observations of Apidae bees on iNaturalist!

 

Learn about more Washington bees

Andrenidae · Apidae · Colletidae · Halictidae · Megachilidae · Melittidae · Cuckoo Bees · Species of Greatest Conservation Need · Honey bees