Overview
The Stenotritidae are recognised as a subfamily of Apidae in Michener (2000) and in the Lucid identification key on this website.
The following text is from Naumann (1991).
Large, densely pubescent bees (body length 14- 20 mm). Prior to 1980, this endemic Australian group was treated as a subfamily of Colletidae. The mouth-parts are colletid-like except that the glossa is rounded-acute apically rather than truncate or emarginate. Other distinguishing features are the low-set ocelli, paired subantennal sutures, elongated 1st flagellar segment (longer than scape), absence of the pre-episternal groove and vestigial sting. The compound eyes of males are often strongly convergent dorsally. The only genera,
Stenotritus
(20 spp.) and
Ctenocolletes
(10 spp.), are best represented in W.A. and only the former occurs in the eastern states (except Tas.). [Houston 1983b, c, 1985.]
Stenotritids are solitary ground-nesters. Single, cemented, earthen brood cells are constructed at the ends of lateral burrows extending from the end of a shaft. The larval provision is a moulded mass of moist pollen. Various aspects of the biology are dealt with by Houston (1975a, 1984, 1987) and Houston and Thorp (1984).
Further information about the Apidae can be found in Melo & Goncalves 2005, Michener 1965, Michener 2000 and Naumann 1991.