Agricultural-pollinators
Guides
Augochlorella
sweat bees
Augochlorella is a genus of small, metallic sweat bees in the family Halictidae. Members are distinguished from related genera by microscopic wing venation and head structure. The genus exhibits flexible sociality, with some populations forming eusocial colonies while others remain solitary depending on environmental conditions. Augochlorella aurata is among the most common bees in eastern North America and serves as an important pollinator of wildflowers and agricultural crops.
Bombus
bumble bees, bumblebees
Bombus is the sole extant genus in the tribe Bombini, comprising over 250 species of bumble bees. These bees are distinguished by their ability to forage in cooler temperatures and lower light conditions than many other bees, including honey bees. They perform buzz pollination—vibrating their flight muscles to dislodge pollen from flowers—a behavior critical for crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and cranberries. Multiple Bombus species face significant population declines due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure, climate change, and pathogen transmission from commercial bee operations. Four California species (B. franklini, B. suckleyi, B. occidentalis, B. crotchii) are under endangered species protection consideration, with B. franklini feared extinct since 2006.
Megachilinae
mason bees, leafcutter bees, carder bees
Megachilinae is the largest subfamily of bees within the family Megachilidae, comprising mason bees, leafcutter bees, and carder bees. These bees are characterized by their unique nesting behaviors: leafcutters use circular pieces of leaves or petals to line brood cells, masons construct nests from mud or plant resins, and carders collect plant fibers. Unlike most bees, females carry pollen on specialized scopal hairs located on the underside of the abdomen rather than on the hind legs. The subfamily includes numerous genera distributed globally, with species exhibiting diverse habitat preferences from deserts to tropical forests.