| Abstract: | The Ctenoplectridae (for the genera Ctenoplectra and Ctenoplectrina) are separated from the Melittidae, in which they have commonly been included. Ctenoplectrids differ from melittids in many characters, and are more closely related to the long-tongued families Fideliidae, Megachilidae, Anthophoridae, and Apidae than to the Melittidae and other short-tongued families. Ctenoplectrids are the sister-group of the long-tongued bees (and could be considered as long as long-tongued bees with labial palpi of short-tongued bees); melittids are the sister-group to the ctenoplectrids plus long-tongued bees. Characters are listed that support these relationships. Ctenoplectra species appear to be oil collectors from flowers of curcurbits. Some behavioural observations are included. Ctenoplectrina is a probable parasite in nests of Ctenoplectra, as it lacks the pollen and oil manipulating apparatus. |
