Morning Glory Turret Bee
Melitoma taurea
This record describes Melitoma taurea (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Apidae (Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees)
- Subfamily
- Apinae
- Tribe
- Emphorini
- Genus
- Melitoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Kansas to Virginia and Florida Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
March to May in Florida, June to September elsewhere
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images. Pollen specialist on Calystegia R. Br., Ipomoea L. (Convolvulaceae)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Say, 1837
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Melitoma taurea. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Morning Glory Turret Bee (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , hg
Frequently Asked Questions About Morning Glory Turret Bee
How big is Morning Glory Turret Bee?
Female 10-12.5 mm. Male 9.5-12 mm.
Where is Morning Glory Turret Bee found?
Range: Kansas to Virginia and Florida Discover Life Map
What does Morning Glory Turret Bee eat?
The diet of the Morning Glory Turret Bee includes The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images. Pollen specialist on Calystegia R. Br., Ipomoea L. (Convolvulaceae).
When is Morning Glory Turret Bee active?
Morning Glory Turret Bee: seasonal activity - March to May in Florida, June to September elsewhere.