Family: Megachilidae
Subfamily: Megachilinae
Tribe: Anthidiini
Genus: Paranthidium Cockerell and Cockerell, 1901
Subgenera: Paranthidium, Rapanthidium
Common name: none
Paranthidium are bees with robust bodies that range in body length from 7.5–11.0 mm (Michener 2007). They are nonmetallic and have black or brown integument with white to yellow abdominal, thoracic, or facial patterns (Michener 2007). Some species have color patterning that is similar to that of a hornet (Wilson and Carril 2016). The presence of pollen-collecting hairs on the female abdomen and other characters make them easy to identify as a bee on close inspection.
Paranthidium contains approximately 8 species in 2 subgenera worldwide. Paranthidium jugatorium, occurs in the U.S. and is rare or absent in extreme southern Canada (Michener 2007; Wilson and Carril 2016). Two species are undescribed (Michener 2007).
(modified from Michener 2007)
Paranthidium may be confused with Dianthidium due to similar size, shape, and coloration, but can be easily distinguished because Paranthidium lacks omaular and preoccipital carina (Michener 2007).
There are no known invasives.
Paranthidium is endemic to the Western Hemisphere, and ranges from the U.S. south to Panama (Michener 2007). The only species that occurs in the U.S., is P. jugatorium which occurs from the Atlantic Coast into the midwestern and southwestern U.S. This species has been further divided into four subspecies (Wilson and Carril 2016). Paranthidium jugatorium jugatorium occurs from New York to the Midwest; P. jugatorium lepidum occurs in Kentucky and Virginia, south to Georgia, with records in northern Florida; P. jugatorium butleri occurs in Arizona; and P. jugatorium perpictum occurs in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona (Wilson and Carril 2016). The remaining species in the genus occur in Mexico and Central America (Michener 2007).
​Distribution map generated by Discover Life -- click on map for details, credits, and terms of use.