|Scott, Virginia -|
|Ascher, John -|
|Nufio, Cesar -|
Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: June 17, 2011
Publication Date: September 1, 2011
Citation: Scott, V.L., Ascher, J.S., Griswold, T.L., Nufio, C.R. 2011. The bees of Colorado (Hymenoptra: Apoidea: Anthophila). Natural History Inventory of Colorado. 23: 1-100. Interpretive Summary: Despite more than a century and a half of studies on the bees of North America we still do not have well documented lists of bee species for any of the western states where most of the diversity in bees resides. The Colorado Bee List documents the presence of 940 bee species and their occurrence at the county level. The history of bee research in Colorado is recounted, describing the contributions of diverse researchers that had a major impact on our knowledge of Colorado’s bees. A summary of our knowledge of the biology of bees in Colorado is provided. New records for the state are documented.
Technical Abstract: The Colorado Bee List contains 940 valid extant bee species in 66 genera. Distributional data are presented at the county level for each bee species found within Colorado. The history of bee research in Colorado is reviewed and important contributors are noted. Gaps in our current understanding of the Colorado bee fauna are discussed. Colorado bee species diversity is assessed in relation to the faunas of other states, including those adjoining Colorado. Life history characteristics, e.g., aspects of sociality, nesting biology, and floral associations, are summarized for Colorado bees at the generic level. The literature on fossil bee species known from Colorado is summarized. Megachile helianthi Cockerell is recognized as a junior synonym of Megachile (Megachile) montivaga Cresson, new synonymy. The parasitic species Lasioglossum (Dialictus) sitocleptum Gibbs is recorded for the first time from the United States, and approximately forty additional species are recorded for the first time from Colorado.