Colletes phaceliae

Cockerell, 1906

phacelia cellophane bee

Colletes phaceliae is a solitary ground-nesting in the Colletidae, commonly known as the phacelia cellophane bee. Like other members of the Colletes, females construct subterranean burrows and line with a cellophane-like secretion from the , creating waterproof chambers for their larvae. The is found in North America and is named for its association with phacelia flowers.

Colletes phaceliae, f, side, Pennington Co, SD 2016-02-02-11.23 (48760258561) by Yellowstone National Park. Used under a Public domain license.Colletes phaceliae, f, side, Pennington Co, SD 2016-02-02-11.23 (24784529135) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.Colletes phaceliae, m, face, Pennington Co., SD 2018-06-19-17.09 (43987981282) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Colletes phaceliae: /kɒˈliːtiːz fəˈsiːliˌiː/

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Distribution

North America.

Similar Taxa

  • Colletes inaequalisAnother early spring plasterer bee with similar ground-nesting ; microscopic examination of wing venation and facial features required for separation.
  • Colletes thoracicusSympatric vernal plasterer bee with overlapping spring ; distinguished by subtle morphological differences in wing venation and thoracic coloration.
  • Andrena spp.Mining bees that share similar size, hairiness, and ground-nesting habits; Andrena have rounder and lack the forked tongue and cellophane -lining of Colletes.

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