Small Carpenter Bee (Female)

Ceratina Latreille, 1802, family Apidae, subfamily Xylocopinae, tribe Ceratini, is a genus that comprises of about 350 species distributed throughout the world. Ceratina bees (small carpenter bees) are closely related to the more familiar large carpenter bees (Xylocopa species).

Ceratina bees are under 8 mm in length. They have club-shaped abdomen, dull metallic color and inconspicuous hair. Males have larger white markings on the face. Female Ceratina bees can be distinguished from Megachile bees by the fact that they carry pollen on the hind legs whereas Megachile bees carry pollen under the abdomen. Ceratina bees can be distinguished from Halictine bees by their mouthparts (Ceratina bees have a long glossa/tongue) and their hind wings (which have a tiny jugal lobe – posterior area of wing).