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Orchid bee — printable fact sheet
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Orchid bee
Euglossa dilemma
The orchid bee is a vibrant, metallic-colored bee native to Central and South America, renowned for its striking iridescent green, blue, or gold hues. Males are famous for their unique behavior of collecting aromatic compounds from orchids and other sources, which they store in …
Did you know?
- Orchid bees are the only group of corbiculate bees whose members are primarily solitary rather than eusocial.
- Male orchid bees collect and blend unique fragrances from a variety of sources, including orchids, tree resins, and even man-made chemicals. Their metallic coloration is a result of microscopic structures in their exoskeleton, not pigments. Unlike most bees, orchid bees have long tongues, allowing them to access nectar from deep within complex flowers.
What I learned
Draw the orchid bee
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