Author: Robertson, 1901

Type species: Epeolus concavus Cresson, 1878, by original designation.
Synonyms: Synepeolus Cockerell, 1921; 
Clade: Anthophila
Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Nomadinae
Tribe: Epeolini
Distinctive traits
  • Robust body shape
  • No scopa (cleptoparasitic bees)
  • Long-mouthparts
  • 3 submarginal cells
  • submarginal cell 1 larger than 2 and 2 smaller than 3
  • marginal cell with apex distant from anterior margin of the wing
  • axillae pointed
Pictures of distinctive traits
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Morphologically close genera, and how to distinguish them:
  • Triepeolus - Epeolus
Triepeolus species have submarginal cells 2 smaller than 3, the nervulus is bent at right angle, apical margin of sternite 3 has a frange of hairs like 4 or 5, the mandible lack a preapical tooth.
Epeolus species have submarginal cells 2 and 3 of equivalent size, the nervulus is arched but not bent at right angle, apical margin of sternite 3 doesn't have a frange of hairs, the mandible often has a preapical tooth.
  • Triepeolus - Nomada
Triepeolus species have a marginal cell more oval, with an apex clearly separated from the wing's anterior margin
Nomada species have a marginal cell pointed following the wing's anterior margin.


General comments on Triepeolus species identification
Triepeolus is represented by only one species in Europe, but the genus identification has to be handled with care due to the similarity with Epeolus species.
Triepeolus species found in Europe (UICN 2014 + Rasmont et al. 2017)
Triepeolus (Triepeolus) tristis (Smith, 1854)
Online resources:
Atlas hymenoptera (France & Belgium)
Discover Life (World)
WestPalBees (West Palearctic)
Page contributors:
  • Adrien Perrard (Dec. 2019)

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References used to write this page:
  • Michener, C.D. 2007. The Bees of the World, 2nd Edition. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
  • Michez D., Rasmont P., Terzo, M., Vereecken, N. 2019. Abeilles d'Europes. Hymenoptères d'Europes, Volume 1. N.A.P. Editions.
  • Nieto, A., Roberts, S. P., Kemp, J., Rasmont, P., Kuhlmann, M., García Criado, M., ... & Michez, D. 2014. European red list of bees. Luxembourg: Publication Office of the European Union, 98. (IUCN 2014)
  •  Rasmont, P., Devalez, Jelle, Pauly, A., Michez, D. & Radchenko, V.G. 2017. Addition to the checklist of IUCN European wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). Annales de la Société entomologique de France 53: 17-32.