Hylaeus basalis

(Smith, 1853)

Cinquefoil Masked Bee

Hylaeus basalis is a solitary in the , commonly known as the Cinquefoil Masked Bee. It is to North America and belongs to the Hylaeus, a group of nearly hairless bees often mistaken for . Like other masked bees, females lack pollen-carrying structures and instead transport nectar and pollen internally in a , regurgitating food stores at the nest. The species has been documented in Colorado and Vermont.

Hylaeus basalis, F, Side, NY, Gravel Pits 2014-07-29-15.29 (48760444927) by Yellowstone National Park. Used under a Public domain license.

Hylaeus basalis, m, back 2020-08-19-16.06.32 ZS PMax UDR (50615566121) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Hylaeus basalis, F, Side, NY, Gravel Pits 2014-07-29-15.29 (34396542836) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hylaeus basalis: /hɪˈliːəs bəˈseɪlɪs/

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

Identification

Hylaeus basalis is a relatively large within the Hylaeus. Males can be distinguished from females by their facial markings: males have the entire colored or , while females have yellow, white, or ivory markings only on the inner margin of each . As with all Hylaeus, the body is nearly hairless, giving a -like appearance. Positive identification to species level from images alone is difficult and typically requires examination by a familiar with .

Images

Habitat

Observed in high-elevation areas, including locations over 8,000 feet in Colorado. The has been documented in montane environments such as Emerald Valley on Cheyenne Mountain. Like other Hylaeus, it likely nests in pre-existing cavities including hollow stems, twigs, or abandoned burrows.

Distribution

North America. Documented occurrences include Colorado (Teller County, Cheyenne Mountain area) and Vermont, United States.

Seasonality

have been observed in June and July in Colorado.

Life Cycle

Solitary nesting . Females construct nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems or twigs. Individual are lined with a glandular secretion—a natural that protects stored food from spoilage. Each cell contains a single provisioned with regurgitated nectar and pollen.

Behavior

Females forage for nectar and pollen, which they store internally in a rather than carrying externally. They nest solitarily, with each female constructing and provisioning her own nest. Males have been observed congregating near nesting areas.

Ecological Role

Likely functions as a , though specific floral associations for this are not well documented. As a member of Hylaeus, it contributes to services in montane where it occurs.

Similar Taxa

Hylaeus modestusAnother North Hylaeus ; both are nearly hairless masked with similar overall and -like appearance. H. modestus has been documented visiting flowers in garden settings, while H. basalis appears more associated with montane .
Colletes spp. in the Colletes share the trait of lining nest with glandular secretions (natural ). Both genera include with hairy males that can appear similar in , though Colletes are generally hairier overall and have different facial markings.

More Details

Taxonomic identification

-level identification of Hylaeus from images is challenging due to the subtle morphological differences between species. Expert consultation with taxonomists is typically required for reliable identification.