This map summarizes the entire biogeographical data set: XX data.

Dasypoda species are the biggest species among the Melittidae. Most species are longer than 15 mm while the other Dasypodaidae are less than 10 mm. Dasypoda share a few apomorphies: black body, vertex elevated, no basitibial plate, female scopae strongly developed and absence of keirotrichia (Michener 1981).
Michez et al. (2004a, b) and Michez (2005) listed 33 species and described four subgenera based on morphological cladistic analysis: Dasypoda s.str., Heterodasypoda, Microdasypoda and Megadasypoda. Diagnostic features are numerous at specific level: sculpture of outer surface of galea, punctation of clypeus, length of malar area, scopae colour, appressed setae on female pygidial plate, shape of male S6-8 and shape of male genitalia.
Dasypoda species are common in the Palaearctic region from Morocco to Japan but most species are west-palaearctic (Michez 2002, 2005, Michez et al. 2004a, b). The four subgenera diversity centres are restricted to one of the following Mediterranean peninsula: Balkan, Morocco and Spain. Cycles of repeated expansions and fragmentations of ecosystems during the Quaternary Era could explain these ranges.