superfamily within the Aculeata (Hymenoptera), including the bees, characterized by branched hairs on the body and the basitarsus of the hind leg much broader than following segments (Riek, in CSIRO); Apoidea + Sphecoidea (Gauld and Bolton).

The superfamily Apoidea (a Latin name derived from apis meaning bee) is a, somewhat controversial or confused, major group within the Hymenoptera, which includes the "sphecoid" wasps, and the bees who appear to be their descendents -- crabronid wasps that switched to the use of pollen and nectar as larval food, rather than insect prey.