Stenotritidae

The American entomologist Ronald J. McGinley proposed their position as an independent family based on the morphology of the glossae in 1980. This view quickly became established.

They are large, densely hairy, fast-flying bees, which make simple burrows in the ground and firm, ovoid provision masses in cells lined with a waterproof secretion. The nests of some species can reach a depth of more than three metres. The larvae do not spin cocoons.

Fossil brood cells of a stenotritid bee have been found in the Pleistocene of the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.

Species

The family contains two genera: Ctenocolletes and Stenotritus.

Ctenocolletes

• Ctenocolletes albomarginatus (Michener, 1965)
• Ctenocolletes centralis (Houston, 1983)
• Ctenocolletes fulvescens (Houston, 1983)
• Ctenocolletes nicholsoni (Cockerell, 1929)
• Ctenocolletes nigricans (Houston, 1985)
• Ctenocolletes ordensis (Michener, 1965)
• Ctenocolletes rufescens (Houston, 1983)
• Ctenocolletes smaragdinus (Smith, 1868)
• Ctenocolletes tigris (Houston, 1983)
• Ctenocolletes tricolor (Houston, 1983)

Stenotritus

• Stenotritus elegans (Smith, 1853)
• Stenotritus elegantior (Cockerell, 1921)
• Stenotritus ferricornis (Cockerell, 1916)
• Stenotritus greavesi (Rayment, 1930)
• Stenotritus murrayensis (Rayment, 1935)
• Stenotritus nigrescens (Friese, 1924)
• Stenotritus nitidus (Smith, 1879)
• Stenotritus pubescens (Smith, 1868)
• Stenotritus rufocollaris (Cockerell, 1921)
• Stenotritus splendidus (Rayment, 1930)
• Stenotritus victoriae (Cockerell, 1906)