Interactive species keys to the bees of the Prairie Pollinator Project.
Genus key, and project background.
Species keys, below. We use these keys as an efficient way to track the traits that define species—often morphospecies [definition]—associated with our own specimens. The keys should also be useful to citizen scientists that have identified a specimen to genus, and want to determine species, or at least work through a character list to narrow the choices.
Species keys, below. We use these keys as an efficient way to track the traits that define species—often morphospecies [definition]—associated with our own specimens. The keys should also be useful to citizen scientists that have identified a specimen to genus, and want to determine species, or at least work through a character list to narrow the choices.
Caveats. The keys are:
- Largely derived from the excellent Discover Life keys, and other sources noted below. These keys vary in coverage, from the US and Canada, including western species, to rudimentary or nonexistent. Occasional misinterpretation of traits offered in source keys is inevitable.
- Far from comprehensive. We only attempt to describe species within our own collection, which are associated with prairie habitats in the Willamette Valley and Cascadian area of Washington. Males are poorly represented in these keys.
- Always in draft form. I am regularly revising our categories and correcting errors.
- You might need some background on anatomy. See the bottom of this page on DiscoverLife.
How it works: The keys are created via the biodiversity collaborative management platform, a fantastic taxonomic tool that allows a user to create their own keys. The landing page has an automatically generated dichotomous key, and a link to a polyclave key, which allows a user to enter characters in any order. This is a often a better approach, especially for the non-specialist uncertain about how to score some characters.
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Key to 22 genera identified in the PPP collection. Our key draws on several other sources:
1) The excellent The Bees of the Willamette Valley: A comprehensive guide to the genera by August Jackson. 2) IDmybee, a genus key for Europe, 3) USGS ID guide for Idaho. |
Ceratina are small dark, shiny, often metallic green bees.
See OR and WA records on iNaturalist. See also Discover Life key. We have just 3 identified species, and no morphospecies, though there are 3 other possibilities in our region. Key is for either male or female. |
Lasioglossum are brown or slightly metallic bees with an arched basal vein and apical hair bands (the similar Halictus has apical hair bands).
See OR and WA records on iNaturalist. The McGinley key is the go-to for western species (not covered in Discover Life). It is not for the faint of heart - the terminology and figures are difficult to parse. We have just 6 identified species, and the subgenus dialictus. |
Halictus are brown or slightly metallic bees with an arched basal vein and basal hair bands.
OR and WA records on iNaturalist. Roberts key of northwestern species. We have 5 common species. |
Megachile
The Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification key is beautifully done, with clear photos of characters. Neither this key, or Discover Life includes all OR/WA species. These keys emphasize mandible features, which we avoid here because they are often concealed. OR and WA records on iNaturalist. We have 7 female named species, and numerous unnamed males. |
Andrena Andrena are hyperdiverse. We have >30 species or morphospecies in our key. Likely there are some that we have differentiated that are in fact the same species, and other cases where we have failed to recognize differences. However the diagnostic information and photos might allow a genuine expert to suggest revision--let us know.
OR and WA records on iNaturalist. Discover Life key. |
This effort is based on the the work of the Institute for Applied Ecology and Quamash EcoResearch. However any oversights or errors in the keys--I own those.
--David Cappaert, Jan 2022
--David Cappaert, Jan 2022