Current and future distributions of the non-native bee Euglossa dilemma

Species invasions are common in Florida where some of the most notorious invasive arthropods have wreaked havoc on agricultural industries. Invasive species can also compete against native species for resources and alter ecosystems through these dynamics. The green orchid bee, Euglossa dilemma, is a non-native bee species from central America that was first introduced into Broward County, Florida in 2004. Over the past two decades, E. dilemma has extended its range along the coastline of Florida from south Florida to central Florida. Before we can assess whether or not this introduction is causing harm to native bee species, we first need to assess its current and future distributions. Since its introduction, E. dilemma has been frequently observed and added to community science platforms such as iNaturalist. We use this community science data along with collections data to construct species distribution models (SDM’s) of E. dilemma in Florida. We aim to assess the current distribution of E. dilemma as well as potential E. dilemma distributions under future climate scenarios. Because E. dilemma is native to a tropical climate rather than a primarily subtropical climate like that in Florida, we hypothesize that the range will expand under future climate scenarios that expand the tropical region of Florida farther north. Using SDM’s to assess current and future E. dilemma distributions will be the first step in understanding the impacts of this non-native bee on Florida native bee species and pollination systems.