What ancient pollen transport method do *Hylaeus* bees share with some of their closest relatives?
Answer
Carrying wet pollen mixed with nectar in their crops
The method utilized by *Hylaeus* bees for provisioning larvae—carrying wet pollen mixed with nectar internally in their crop—is regarded as a primitive or ancestral trait within the overall lineage of bees. This contrasts sharply with derived lineages that evolved mechanisms like the corbicula to carry dry pollen externally. This internal transport system, essentially treating pollen as a liquid slurry along with nectar, suggests that the ancestors of the *Hylaeus* genus diverged very early in bee evolution, predating the independent evolution of specialized external pollen transport structures found in many other modern bee families.
Related Questions
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