Melittidae

Melittidae
Temporal range:
Macropis europaea, female
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Clade: Anthophila
Family: Melittidae
Subfamilies

Dasypodainae
Melittinae
Meganomiinae

Melittidae is a small bee family, with over 200 described species in three subfamilies. The family has a limited distribution, with all described species restricted to Africa and the northern temperate zone.

Fossil melittids have been found occasionally in Eocene amber deposits, including those of Oise, France and the Baltic amber.