Colletes birkmanni

Swenk, 1906

polyester bee, plasterer bee, cellophane bee

Colletes birkmanni is a solitary ground-nesting in the Colletidae, one of approximately 99 North American in the Colletes. Like other members of its genus, females construct individual burrows in sandy or thinly vegetated soils and line with a distinctive cellophane-like secretion from the . This species belongs to a group commonly called 'polyester bees' or 'plasterer bees' due to this unique waterproofing .

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Colletes birkmanni: /kɒˈlɛtiːz bɜrkˈmɑːniː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Identification to level within Colletes requires microscopic examination of morphological characters. General -level characters include: forked or bifurcated mouthparts (visible when is extended); -shaped in frontal view; and an S-shaped (sinuous) second recurrent in the forewing (the straight second recurrent vein in Andrena mining bees is a key distinguishing feature). Males have longer than females and lack the scopa (pollen-collecting hairs) on the hind legs.

Habitat

Sandy soils with thin vegetation; bare patches in lawns; sunny, well-drained ground. Nests in where hundreds to thousands of females may occupy small areas.

Distribution

North America. Specific range details for this are not well documented in the provided sources.

Seasonality

Spring to autumn activity; like many Colletes , likely among the first bees active in spring and among the last in fall. Some Colletes species are (one per year) while others are (two generations).

Life Cycle

Solitary lifecycle: each female excavates her own burrow, constructs , and provisions them individually. Females line cell walls with saliva followed by secretion, creating a waterproof, cellophane-like . Cells are provisioned with a semi-liquid mixture of nectar and pollen. Larvae develop through summer and fall, pupating to emerge the following season. Males typically emerge before females (protandry).

Behavior

Females excavate burrows using mouthparts to remove soil, accompanied by buzzing that may aid in loosening soil particles. Nesting occurs in dense despite solitary lifestyle. Males patrol nesting areas seeking mates, often forming 'mating balls' around emerging females. When handled, emits a citrus-like odor from cephalic gland secretions containing linalool and other compounds, possibly used in nest-finding or mate location. Extremely docile; females reluctant to sting due to high reproductive cost.

Ecological Role

. Ground-nesting contributes to soil aeration. As with other Colletes, likely serves as important early-season pollinator for spring-flowering plants.

Human Relevance

Beneficial ; poses minimal sting risk. Large nesting sometimes cause concern among homeowners or turf managers, but bees are passive and do not damage healthy lawns (colonize already thin or sandy areas). Conservation of nesting sites supports native pollinator .

Similar Taxa

Andrena (mining bees)Similar size and ground-nesting habit; distinguished by rounder and straight second recurrent in forewing versus S-shaped vein in Colletes
Halictus and Lasioglossum (sweat bees)Similar size and general appearance; microscopic examination of wing venation and mouthparts required for separation
Other Colletes speciesExtremely difficult to distinguish without microscopic examination; C. birkmanni specifically not differentiated from in available sources