Diversity and distribution of orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Euglossini) in Belize.

In 86 samples, we collected 24 species in four genera: (16 species), (3), (3), and (2). During our most extensive sampling (December 2016-February 2017), species diversity was not correlated with latitude, precipitation, or elevation; species richness was correlated only with precipitation (positively). However, a canonical correspondence analysis indicated that species composition of assemblages varied across all three environmental gradients, with species like , and most common in the drier north, and , and more so in the wetter southeast. Other species, such as and , were common throughout the area sampled. Mean species diversity was higher at sites with agricultural activities than at sites separated from agricultural areas. A Chao1 analysis suggests that other species should yet be found at our sites, a conclusion supported by records from adjacent countries, as well as the fact that we often added new species with repeated surveys of the same sites up through early 2020, and with the use of alternative baits. Additional species may be especially likely if sampling occurs outside of the months/seasons that we have sampled so far.