Colletes susannae

Swenk, 1925

Susanna's Cellophane Bee

Colletes susannae, known as Susanna's cellophane , is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the Colletidae. Like other members of its , females construct burrows in sandy soil and line with a cellophane-like secretion from the . The is found in North America and belongs to a group commonly called plasterer bees or polyester bees due to their distinctive nest-lining .

Colletes susannae by (c) Thilina Hettiarachchi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thilina Hettiarachchi. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Colletes susannae: //kəˈliːtiːz suˈsæn.iː//

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Identification

Colletes are difficult to distinguish from similar ground-nesting bees without close examination. Conclusive identification of C. susannae requires microscopic study. Generic characters for Colletes include: a forked, bifurcated tongue (visible when extended); three submarginal in the forewing with a distinctly S-shaped (sinuous) second recurrent beneath; and a -shaped in -on view. Males have longer than females and lack the scopa (pollen-collecting hairs) on the hind legs.

Images

Habitat

Based on -level characteristics, prefers sandy soils with thin vegetation in sunny locations. Nests in where hundreds to thousands of females may occupy small areas.

Distribution

North America. Specific range details within North America are not documented in available sources.

Behavior

Solitary but nests in dense . Females excavate individual burrows and line with a waterproof, cellophane-like coating produced by the . Males emerge first (protandry) and actively patrol nesting areas seeking mates, often forming mating balls around females.

Ecological Role

Native . As with other Colletes , likely contributes to pollination of early spring-blooming plants.

Human Relevance

Non-aggressive and reluctant to sting. Large nesting may cause concern to homeowners but pose minimal risk. Beneficial as a native .

Similar Taxa

Andrena (mining bees)Similar ground-nesting habit and appearance; distinguished by rounder and straighter second recurrent in forewing
Halictus and Lasioglossum (sweat bees)Similar size and ground-nesting ; distinguished by wing venation and mouthpart structure

More Details

Nesting biology

Based on characteristics, females likely apply saliva followed by secretions to create a waterproof cellophane-like lining in . This protects the semi-liquid pollen and nectar provisions from spoilage.