Native Bees of the Lower Rio Grande Valley : A Photographic Guide.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sharp, Paula.

Series:

Gideon Lincecum Nature and Environment Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bees--Texas--Lower Rio Grande Valley--Identification.

Bees.

Bees--Ecology--Texas--Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Genre:

Field guides.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (536 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

College Station : Texas A&M University Press, 2025.

Summary:

"The Lower Rio Grande Valley is an ecologically unique region acclaimed for its biodiversity and great conservation value. The Valley harbors a multitude of wild bee species rarely seen north of Mexico--many found almost exclusively in Texas or along the Texas-Mexico border. Habitat loss, increasing drought, and border politics threaten habitats along the Rio Grande, and many of these species are at risk of disappearing before they've even been documented: fascinating species such as the rare Texas mesoxaea, the emerald-green Aztec sweat bee, the formidable Totonac cuckoo leafcutter, or the elusive Ptiloglossa feather-tongued bee. Photographer and author Paula Sharp has painstakingly documented more than 100 bee species from within 45 distinct genera to produce Native Bees of the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley, offering readers a rare glimpse of the region's bee life. Many of the bees shown here have never appeared in published photographs. Each species is presented in colorful detail, accompanied by floral associations and short histories summarizing entomological research conducted to date. Sharp combines formidable research skills with dazzling photographic artistry to render a guide that is comprehensive, informative, and beautiful. This richly illustrated and authoritative guide to native bee species in the Texas Rio Grande Valley will be of great interest to avocational and professional naturalists, entomologists, conservationists, apiculturists, and nature enthusiasts, especially in the region"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction

Field Identification of Bees

The Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley Region

Definitions: Nesting Behavior, Pollination, and Bee Anatomy

Bee Families and Genera of the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley

Bee Guide

Family Andrenidae

Oxaeine Bees (Mesoxaea, Protoxaea)

Mining Bees (Andrena)

Protandrenine Bees (Protandrena)

Fairy Bees (Perdita)

Calliopsine Bees (Calliopsis)

Family Apidae

Chimney Bees (Melitoma and Diadasia)

Crooked-Legged Bees (Ancyloscelis)

Longhorn Bees (Melissoptila, Florilegus, Eucera, Svastra, and Melissodes)

Exomalopsine Bees (Anthophorula and Exomalopsis)

Digger Bees (Anthophora)

Oil-Digger Bees (Centris)

Large and Small Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa and Ceratina)

Cuckoo Bees (Nomada, Epeolus, and Triepeolus)

Bumble Bees (Bombus)

Honey Bees (Apis)

Family Colletidae

Feather-Tongued Bees (Ptiloglossa)

Cellophane Bees (Colletes)

Masked Bees (Hylaeus)

Family Halictidae

Green Sweat Bees (Augochlora, Augochloropsis, and Augochlorella)

Striped Green Sweat Bees (Agapostemon)

Furrow Bees (Halictus and Lasioglossum)

Sphecodes Cuckoo Bees (Sphecodes)

Nomiine Bees (Nomia and Dieunomia)

Family Megachilidae

Cactus Woodborer Bees (Lithurgopsis)

Mason Bees (Osmia)

Resin Bees (Heriades) Ashmeadiella

Pebble Bees (Dianthidium)

Stelis Cuckoo Bees (Stelis)

Leafcutter Bees (Megachile)

Cuckoo Leafcutter Bees (Coelioxys)

Appendix: List of Lower Rio Grande Valley Bee Species.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-64843-201-8

OCLC:

1518756373