As you spend time in your garden this summer, you may notice some jet black bees with distinctive white spots zipping around your flowers. These are two spotted longhorn bees, a widespread and beneficial pollinator species found across North America. In this article, we’ll explore the natural history of these fascinating insects and how to identify them.
The two spotted longhorn bee (Melissodes bimaculatus) is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the Apidae family. It earns its common name from the two white spots on females’ abdomens and the characteristically long antennae on males.
This species has an expansive range, occurring across the Eastern and Midwestern United States as well as parts of the Rocky Mountains and Southwest. Two spotted longhorns are a common sight in gardens, farms, and other human-modified landscapes.
Adults are active for just 6-8 weeks in mid to late summer. During this brief period, females construct underground nests and provision them with pollen and nectar for their offspring. The larvae then develop underground before emerging as adults the following year
Identifying Characteristics
Two spotted longhorn bees display striking sexual dimorphism meaning males and females look quite different
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Males are around 0.4 inches long and entirely jet black except for a pale yellow-white patch on their face. Their most conspicuous feature is their lengthy antennae which can be up to 0.6 inches long.
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Females are larger at 0.5-0.6 inches and stockier in build. They have shorter, all-black antennae and thick brushes of pollen-collecting hairs on their back legs. Females also exhibit the two white spots on the sides of their abdomens that give this species its name.
Where to Find Them
During their brief active period, two spotted longhorns frequent a wide variety of blooms in search of nectar and pollen. Some plants to watch include:
- Summer squashes and cucumbers
- Black-eyed susans and coneflowers
- Cosmos, zinnias, and other garden annuals
- Herbs like oregano and bergamot
- Wildflowers like hoary vervain and mountain mint
Males patrol these flowers avidly for receptive females. At night, they form adorable “slumber parties,” grasping vegetation in groups with their mandibles to sleep.
An Important Pollinator
Two spotted longhorns visit many vegetable crops and native plants. Their generous pollen collection makes them an excellent pollinator for:
- Squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, and gourds
- Tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and other nightshades
- Corn, sunflowers, and other crops grown for seeds
- Wild bergamot, coneflowers, and other native flora
By pollinating these plants, two spotted longhorns support food production and the reproduction of native plant communities. Their ecologically valuable services are another reason to welcome these striking bees to your garden.
Creating Habitat for Longhorn Bees
Here are some tips to make your garden more inviting for Melissodes bimaculatus:
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Plant native flowers they prefer like coneflowers, asters, and mountain mint
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Include blossoming herbs like oregano and fragrant hyssop
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Allow some areas of exposed, undisturbed soil for nesting sites
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Avoid pesticide use which can be lethal to bees
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Include blooms of different shapes that bees can easily access
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Maintain flower diversity by planting both annuals and perennials
With a little effort, you can turn your garden into a haven for these important pollinators! Observe the two spotted longhorns at work this summer and enjoy their vital contributions to your backyard ecosystem.
Pollinator Spotlight: Melissodes bimaculatus
Meet the Two-spotted Longhorn bee, Melissodes bimaculatus. It often comes to gardens, so keep an eye out for it at home or in the public garden near you. This bee is named for the long antennae on the males and the two white spots on the base of the abdomen. The genus name Melissodes means “bee-like. Most species of Melissodes are specialists, which means they only collect pollen from one family or genus of plants. But Melissodes bimaculatus is a generalist, which means it will get pollen and nectar from a lot of different plants.
Melissodes bimaculatus is in the tribe Eucerini (Longhorn Bees), the most diverse tribe in the family Apidae. There are almost 100 species of Melissodes bees in the US, and this is one of 16 species that live in Pennsylvania.
Where can you find it?
This species lives mostly in the eastern United States, but some have been seen in the Rocky Mountain states. It is abundant in cities and farms.
Two-spotted longhorn bee (Melissodes bimaculatus) in my Shoreview, MN backyard.
FAQ
Do two spotted longhorn bees sting?
Do long-horned bees sting?
Are long-horned bees aggressive?
What do longhorn bees eat?
What does a two-spotted longhorn bee look like?
The black and yellow Two-spotted Longhorn Bee looks slightly different from others thanks to two pale spots near the tip of the abdomen. Updated: 07/22/2022; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org Male Two-spotted Longhorn Bees have antennae that are about twice as long as usual.
What is a two spotted longhorn bee?
Apidae > Melissodes > Melissodes bimaculatus Two-spotted longhorn bee (Melissodes bimaculatus) is one of the most distinctive bees in the northeast. Jet-black, with a zippy flight, and a tendency to visit common garden plants, M. bimaculatus is straightforward to find and identify in summer.
Where do two spotted longhorn bees nest?
Despite their abundance, two-spotted longhorn bees nest in obscurity; few nests have ever been documented. We suspect they nest in sparsely vegetated soils, such as those found on the margin of a garden bed. If you think you’ve found a nest, please reach out! The best way to spot M. bimaculatus is to spend time watching your garden in mid summer.
Where do longhorn bees live?
Two-spotted longhorn bee female drinking nectar from wild bergamot. Melissodes bimaculatus can be found across eastern North America, from Texas to Florida, but also as far west as the front range of Colorado. Populations occur to Minnesota and Maine.