- Family: Megachilidae
- Approximate # species in region: 9
- Common name: dark bees
Stelis is a genus of megachilid cleptoparasites, laying eggs in the nests of Megachile, Osmia, Hoplitis, Heriades, and Trachusa. They are stocky but elongate, evenly wide down the length of their bodies, and often with relatively sparse hairs. With the exception of one relatively widespread species, Stelis are generally not often encountered.
Stelis are shaped much like other anthidiine bees, but are perhaps best recognized by the specific color patterns of individual species. Due to their cleptoparasitic lifestyle, female Stelis lack dense scopal hairs on the underside of their abdomen (unlike non-parasitic megachilid bees).
Regional Species List:
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Phenology | Hosts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stelis australis | Southern painted-dark bee | Jul-Sep | Trachusa dorsalis |
| Stelis coarctatus | Compressed dark bee | Jun-Jul | Heriades carinata (early generation) |
| Stelis foederalis | none | Jun-Jul | Hoplitis spoliata, Osmia atriventris? |
| Stelis labiata | none | May-Jul | Hoplitis spoliata |
| Stelis lateralis | Spot-sided dark bee | May-Jul | Hoplitis producta, H. pilosifrons, H. spoliata? |
| Stelis louisae | Louisiana painted-dark bee | Jun-Sep | Megachile campanulae; M. exilis? |
| Stelis nitida | none | May-Jul | Osmia bucephala? |
| Stelis permaculata | Sixteen-spotted dark bee | Aug-Sep | Heriades carinata (late generation) |
| Stelis subemarginata | none | Jun-Jul | Hoplitis albifrons, H. spoliata |