AbstractThe morphology of the antenna cleaners of 175 species of bees representing more than 50 genera was investigated and described comparatively. An ancestral type of antenna cleaner was found in most short‐tongued bees (except Oxaeidae and Ctenoplectridae) as well as in Nomadinae, Ceratini, and some Megachilidae. A further ancestral character (shallow notch), however, was only found in some of these bees (but throughout Colletidae and Halictidae). A derived type of antenna cleaner was found inAnthophora, Euceraand related genera, as well as inMelecta, Ancyloscelis, andCtenoplectra. Several further (derived) types of antenna cleaners were found in Anthophoridae and Apidae. A large variety of antenna cleaners (ancestral as well as derived ones) were found in the Megachilidae. Possible phylogenetic consequences are suggested in Figure 3