Andean Black Longhorn Thygater aethiops

Belonging to the Apidae family places this bee among some of nature's most sophisticated insects—the same family that includes honeybees and their legendary complex societies. As an Apidae member from the Andes, it contributes essential pollination services in its native tropical regions. While much remains to be learned about this particular genus, its membership in such a prestigious bee family hints at its ecological importance in its specialized mountain habitat.