FORAGING SOURCES OF POLLEN FOR EAST TEXAS MELISSODES SPECIES (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE: EUCERINI)

Melissodes is a genus of native bees found throughout east Texas. Their presence on plants found in the region is understudied and could reveal novel or important plant pollinator interactions. This study explores the dietary range of Melissodes species across east Texas and creates a list of plants utilized in pollen collection. To accomplish this, specimens of Melissodes were collected from areas across east Texas and taken from institute collections in order to extract pollen samples from their bodies. Pollens were then examined using a scanning electron microscope in order to be identified. Many of the Melissodes species examined exhibit generalist foraging tendencies as well as having a direct preference for pollen of the Asteraceae family.