Black Orchid bee Eulaema nigrita
(c) Diogo Luiz, some rights reserved (CC BY)
OrderAnts, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Hymenoptera)
FamilyHoney Bees, Bumble Bees, and Allies (Apidae)
GenusEulaema (Eulaema)
The black orchid bee—large-bodied and gorgeous. Named for their intimate relationship with orchids (they're attracted to specific flower perfumes), these cavity-nesting bees span from Costa Rica to Argentina. Males are perfume collectors, visiting orchid flowers to harvest fragrances they use to attract mates. These charismatic bees represent some of the most specialized and beautiful pollinator-plant relationships in the tropics.
Think you can identify this one in the wild?
Play Now