• Family: Apidae
• Approximate # species in region: 1
• Common name: longhorn bees

Most views of Florilegus are of a grayish blur whizzing between the flowers of Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata). Our single species, F. condignus, is a summertime bee with an absolutely monstrous range that extends from the eastern United States south to Argentina. While Florilegus appears to act as a Pontederia specialist in our region, in other parts of its range it frequently appears far from wetlands and has even been described as an important pollinator of alfalfa (Medicago sativa)!

Other eucerines (including the pickerelweed specialist Melissodes apicatus and far-wandering Peponapis pruinosa) can also turn up in wetlands from time to time. Both male and female Florilegus have a distinctive square gap in their third abdominal hair band that is often easily visible in the field (once they slow down for a couple of seconds!). Also note the contrasting yellow scopal hairs on the legs of female Florilegus (but be careful not to confuse pollen for yellow scopae).