Mellitidia tomentifera
Recently I posted a photo of one of these golden beauties on social media and discovered a far more enchanting common name than Australian Mellitidia. Apparently some in its restricted range in Far North Queensland call them “Smileys”. Can you see why?
It’s that patterning on the thorax! The two triangles of black are the “eyes” and the smile shaped line below is the “mouth”.
This little known bee is the only one of its genus found in Australia and I have observed them on the following flowers in my garden:
- Native Raspberry (Rubus probus)
- Blue Tongue Plant (Melastoma malabithricum) – see video below
- Perennial Basil (Ocimum killmanscharicum x basilicum)
- Grumichama (Eugenia brasiliensis)
- Grasses in my lawn
Have you seen them on any other flower species? Let me know in the comments!
If you’re interested, here’s another post on the Smileys.
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Jane Grows Garden Rooms 
They have recently arrived in my garden outside Townsville in North Queensland . I noticed the smiley face before finding out what they are
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Aren’t they lovely!? Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Sorry for the late reply – I haven’t been getting notifications.
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I recently found these in my garden in Julatten on tomato flowers and cuphea bushes.
I was sent a photo of a whole cluster on a branch at Kewarra Beach when I was secretary of local bee club. I had to get them identified by expert! Mellitidia tomentifera. I wonder if it were males waiting for a female to emerge, like the blue banded bee males do.
Beautiful bee. They seem to be expanding territory! Thanks for your story
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Aren’t they delightful!? I grew up in FNQ and yet had never heard of them. Thanks for your comment.
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