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Basic morphology

We are drawing here on two online sources: The Bees of the World, and The Very Handy Manual 2.0: How to Catch and Identify Bees and Manage a Collection. These also provide additional detail beyond the scope of this resource. 

Back to glossary for detailed definitions

Orientation:

  • Front/back: anterior=toward the head, posterior=away from the head.
  • Up/down: dorsal=top (e.g., tergae), ventral=bottom (e.g., sternites).
  • Center/edge: medial=towards the midline, lateral =away from the midline.
  • Basal=near the origin of a structure, apical=towards the origin.
  • Near/far: proximal=basal, distal=apical.
  • Combinations: posterolateral, anteromedial, etc.

Body structures, drawings by Rebekah Nelson, Very Handy Bee Manual

Specimen version, Andrena profile and dorsal views  

The head, details, diagramatically

Drawing by Rebekah Nelson, Very Handy Bee Manual
Bees of the World

Specimen version, Andrena, Ceratina, Lasioglossum.

Andrena
Ceratina
Posterior view of Lasioglossum head.

Appendages

Drawing by Rebekah Nelson, Very Handy Bee Manual
Forewing of Nomada (Apidae).
Drawing by Rebekah Nelson, Very Handy Bee Manual
Leg of Ptilothrix.