page_title: Euglossa dilemma
section_title: Distribution and habitat
hierarchical_section_title: Euglossa dilemma / Distribution and habitat
caption_attribution_description: I visited the Green Orchid Bees again and found this one perched upon a firebush flower, using it's long proboscis to drink nectar. Euglossa viridissima is a fairly recently introduced non-native species from Mexico &amp; Central America. Today some appeared deep emerald green and others yellow-green. They hover a lot and are loud &amp; enthusiastic buzzers! Males collect and store fragrance from flowers (mostly esters) to use later in courtship rituals. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euglossini (I will give equal time to the little blue-green metallic native Halictid bees that were also there. They are tiny and actually disappear into the firebush flowers to pollinate them!)
context_page_description: Euglossa dilemma, the green orchid bee or dilemma orchid bee, is a species of solitary euglossine bee native to a broad area of Central America, and recently introduced to Florida in the United States. It was first detected in Broward County, Florida in 2003, and initially identified as Euglossa viridissima, but further study revealed that E. viridissima as previously defined consisted of two cryptic species, and the one present in Florida was new to science.
context_section_description: The native range of Euglossa dilemma is in Central America where it extends from Costa Rica to Mexico.
   In Florida it is thought to have originated from Mexico and arrived in the state by accident, perhaps being transported in a nest in a wooden structure such as a pallet. It was first detected in Broward County in 2003 and has since become established in Palm Beach County, Brevard County, and is expected to extend its range to most of the southern half of Florida. In its native Mexico it is found in hot dry habitats including degraded forests, pastures, parks and gardens. It is less dependent on primary forests than most Euglossine bees.
caption: Green orchid bee gathering nectar
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