Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
College/Unit
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department/Program/Center
Biology
Abstract
Orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) are abundant and important pollinators of Neotropical forests, but orchid bee diversity is still poorly known in much of Mesoamerica, particularly in cloud forests. This paper presents results of a 2012 to 2013 survey of orchid bee diversity in Cusuco National Park, a cloud forest environment in northwest Honduras. Orchid bees were collected using insect nets at bait stations with chemical attractants. Bait stations were located at 68 sample sites throughout the park. We collected 4,293 orchid bees representing 24 species and 4 genera. One species, Euglossa imperialis Cockerell, accounted for 67.6% of the total individuals collected. A substantial easterly range extension was established for Eufriesea pallida (Kimsey). Our study provides the first intensive inventory of cloud forest orchid bee diversity in the region. Furthermore, it provides baseline data for future studies of orchid bees in a key biodiversity area that is threatened by human population growth and associated land use changes.
Digital Commons Citation
McCravy, Kenneth W.; Van Dyke, Joseph; Creedy, Thomas J.; and Roubik, David W., "Orchid Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) of Cusuco National Park, State of Cortés, Honduras" (2016). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 1534.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/1534
Source Citation
McCravy, K. W., Dyke, J. V., Creedy, T. J., & Roubik, D. W. (2016). Orchid Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) of Cusuco National Park, State of Cortés, Honduras. Florida Entomologist, 99(4), 765–768. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.099.0431