Apidae
Guides
Ammobatini
cuckoo bees
Ammobatini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic bees within the subfamily Nomadinae of family Apidae. The tribe comprises approximately 8 genera and more than 130 described species. Members are obligate cleptoparasites that exploit the nests of other bees, primarily ground-nesting halictids. The genus Chiasmognathus has been documented attacking Nomioides patruelis (Halictidae).
Ammobatoidini
cuckoo bees
Ammobatoidini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic bees in the family Apidae, subfamily Nomadinae. The tribe contains at least four genera (Aethammobates, Ammobatoides, Holcopasites, and Schmiedeknechtia) and approximately 30 described species. Members are obligate cleptoparasites, laying eggs in the nests of host bees. The tribe has been documented in North America, with some species having restricted geographic ranges.
Ancyloscelis apiformis
Apiform Morning glory-Digger
Ancyloscelis apiformis is a solitary bee in the family Apidae, tribe Emphorini. It is known for its association with morning glory flowers (Ipomoea species), from which it derives its common name. The species has a broad distribution across the Americas, from the southern United States through Central America and into South America. As a member of the subfamily Apinae, it exhibits pollen-collecting behavior typical of this group.
Anthophora
Common Digger Bees, Digger Bees
Anthophora is a large genus of solitary bees in the family Apidae, comprising over 450 species across 14 subgenera. These bees are most diverse in the Holarctic and African biogeographic regions. All species are solitary, though many nest in large aggregations. Nearly all species excavate nests in soil, either in banks or flat ground, with larvae developing in waterproof-lined cells without cocoons. Some species, notably Anthophora bomboides, are bumble bee mimics and construct distinctive turret-like nest entrances.
Anthophora abrupta
Abrupt Digger Bee
Anthophora abrupta is a solitary digger bee in the family Apidae, native to North America. It is known for nesting gregariously, where females are attracted to existing nest sites through visual cues and pheromones. The species has been observed using root plates in forested habitats as nesting substrates. Females mate once, while males are capable of multiple matings.
Anthophora capistrata
Anthophora capistrata is a solitary digger bee in the family Apidae, described by Cresson in 1879. It belongs to a genus of ground-nesting bees that excavate burrows in soil or sand. The species is recorded from Middle America and North America. Like other Anthophora species, it is likely a generalist forager on floral resources, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Anthophora crotchii
Anthophora crotchii is a species of digger bee in the family Apidae, first described by Ezra Townsend Cresson in 1879 and named after entomologist George Robert Crotch. It belongs to the genus Anthophora, a group of solitary, ground-nesting bees commonly known as digger bees. The species occurs in North America. Like other members of its genus, it is expected to be a solitary bee that excavates nests in soil, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Anthophora hololeuca
Anthophora hololeuca is a solitary digger bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1923. Like other members of the genus Anthophora, it is a ground-nesting bee that excavates burrows in soil or sand substrates. The species occurs in North America and Middle America, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as Anthophora bomboides.
Anthophora mortuaria
Anthophora mortuaria is a solitary digger bee in the family Apidae, described by Timberlake in 1937. As a member of the genus Anthophora, it shares characteristics with other digger bees that nest in soil or sandy substrates. The species is accepted in taxonomic databases but has minimal published biological information available. Its specific epithet "mortuaria" (Latin for "of the dead" or "funeral") suggests possible association with particular habitats or behaviors, though this has not been documented in accessible literature.
Anthophora pueblo
Pueblo Sandstone-digger Bee
Anthophora pueblo is a solitary digger bee species in the family Apidae, described by Orr in 2016. The species belongs to a genus known for ground-nesting behavior, with many Anthophora species constructing nests in soil or sandstone substrates. The common name "Pueblo Sandstone-digger Bee" suggests an association with sandstone geological formations. As a member of the tribe Anthophorini, it shares characteristics with other digger bees that excavate burrows for brood rearing.
Anthophora terminalis
Orange-tipped Wood-digger
Anthophora terminalis is a solitary anthophorine bee in the family Apidae, known for its distinctive nesting behavior in wood and other substrates. The species constructs cells using chewed sawdust or wood fibers, lining them with salivary secretions. It has been documented across North America and parts of Europe and Northern Asia, with specific studies in Wisconsin revealing details of its univoltine life cycle and nest architecture. Adults have been observed foraging on several plant species including Stachys palustris, Nepeta cataria, and Epilobium angustifolium.
Anthophora ursina
Anthophora ursina is a solitary digger bee in the family Apidae, native to North America. As a member of the genus Anthophora, it is part of a group of ground-nesting bees commonly known as digger bees. The species was described by Cresson in 1869.
Anthophora walshii
Walsh's anthophora
Anthophora walshii is a species of anthophorine bee in the family Apidae. It is found in North America. Males and females exhibit sexual dimorphism in size, with males generally larger than females. Males can reach up to 16 mm in length with an abdomen breadth of 6 mm, while females grow to approximately 14 mm in length with an abdomen breadth of 5 mm. The species is part of the diverse Anthophora genus, which includes many digger bee species.
Anthophorula nitens
Shining Mini-Digger
Anthophorula nitens is a small bee species in the family Apidae, tribe Exomalopsini, commonly known as the Shining Mini-Digger. It was first described by Cockerell in 1915 under the basionym Exomalopsis nitens. The species is native to North America and belongs to a genus of solitary bees that are typically associated with ground-nesting habits. Like other members of Exomalopsini, it likely exhibits specialized pollen-collecting structures and solitary reproductive behavior.
Biastini
Biastini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic bees within the subfamily Nomadinae (family Apidae). Members are obligate cleptoparasites that exploit the nests of solitary bees, particularly oligolectic hosts. The tribe has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with recent phylogenomic studies establishing that Biastini is paraphyletic and should be synonymized under an expanded concept of Neolarrini. The tribe includes the enigmatic genus Schwarzia, which exhibits unusual morphological features and represents a transitional lineage.
Bombus vagans bolsteri
Bolster's Bumble Bee
Bombus vagans bolsteri, commonly known as Bolster's Bumble Bee, is a subspecies of the half-black bumble bee. It is a native North American bumble bee in the genus Bombus, family Apidae. As a member of this genus, it is a social bee that lives in colonies with queens, workers, and males. The species Bombus vagans is known for its distinctive half-black coloration pattern, and the subspecies bolsteri represents a regional variant.
Bombus vancouverensis nearcticus
Nearctic Bumble Bee
Bombus vancouverensis nearcticus is a subspecies of bumble bee native to western North America. It belongs to a species complex that has undergone taxonomic revision, with some authorities previously treating it as a distinct species (Bombus nearcticus) or synonymizing it with related taxa. The subspecies occurs in montane and coastal regions where it participates in pollination networks. Like other bumble bees in the subgenus Pyrobombus, it exhibits social colony structure with a single queen founding nests in spring.
Bombus vandykei
Van Dyke's bumble bee, Van Dyke's bumblebee
Bombus vandykei, commonly known as Van Dyke's bumble bee, is a species of bumble bee native to western North America. The species was first described by Frison in 1927 and is named in honor of entomologist Henry Van Dyke. It is a medium-sized bumble bee with distinctive coloration that distinguishes it from closely related species. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern with a stable population.
Brachymelecta
Brachymelecta is a genus of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae, established by Linsley in 1939. The genus was formerly known as Xeromelecta until 2021. These bees are cleptoparasites, meaning they lay eggs in the nests of other bees and rely on host provisions to rear their young. The genus includes six recognized species distributed primarily in North America and the Caribbean.
Brachymelecta interrupta
Interrupted Digger-cuckoo Bee
Brachymelecta interrupta is a species of digger-cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. It occurs in Central America and North America. As a cuckoo bee, it is presumed to be a nest parasite of other bees, though specific host relationships are not well documented. The species was originally described as Melecta interrupta by Cresson in 1872.
Brachymelecta larreae
Creosote Digger-cuckoo Bee
Brachymelecta larreae is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, known from Central America and North America. It is commonly called the Creosote Digger-cuckoo Bee. The species has been placed in multiple genera historically, with some authorities recognizing it as Xeromelecta larreae. As a cuckoo bee, it is presumed to exhibit kleptoparasitic behavior, laying eggs in the nests of host bees.
Brachynomada
Brachynomada is a genus of cuckoo bees comprising approximately 16-17 described species. As members of the tribe Brachynomadini, these bees are cleptoparasites that lay their eggs in the nests of other bee species. The genus was established by Holmberg in 1886 and is classified within the subfamily Nomadinae of the family Apidae.
Brachynomadini
cuckoo bees
Brachynomadini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic cuckoo bees within the subfamily Nomadinae of family Apidae. The tribe contains at least five genera and approximately 20 described species. Members are brood parasites that lay eggs in the nests of other bee species, primarily within the family Apidae.
Centris cockerelli
Cockerell's Oil-Digger
Centris cockerelli is a species of oil-collecting bee in the family Apidae, described by Fox in 1899. As a member of the tribe Centridini, it is one of the bees specialized in collecting floral oils rather than nectar. The species occurs in Central America and North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented in scientific literature.
Centris hoffmanseggiae
Centris hoffmanseggiae is a centridine bee in the family Apidae. It is known to occur in North America and Middle America. Like other members of the genus Centris, it is an oil-collecting bee that gathers floral oils from specialized plant structures. The species was described by Cockerell in 1897.
Ceratina dallatorreana
Dalla Torre's ceratina
Ceratina dallatorreana is a small carpenter bee in the family Apidae, first described by Friese in 1896. The species exhibits a rare reproductive strategy among bees: it reproduces exclusively by parthenogenesis and never produces males. This bee has been documented across three continents—Africa, Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America—making it one of the more broadly distributed Ceratina species. Its wide geographic range and unique reproductive biology distinguish it from most other small carpenter bees.
Ceratina floridana
Florida Small Carpenter Bee
Ceratina floridana is a small carpenter bee endemic to Florida, described by Mitchell in 1962. As a member of the genus Ceratina, it belongs to a group of diminutive bees that nest in dead twigs and stems rather than excavating wood like their larger carpenter bee relatives (Xylocopa). The species has been documented through 226 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate levels of contemporary detection. Like other Ceratina species, it likely exhibits solitary or weakly social nesting behavior, though specific behavioral details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature.
Diadasia australis californica
Diadasia australis californica is a subspecies of ground-nesting bee in the family Apidae, described by Timberlake in 1940. The genus Diadasia comprises specialist bees that typically forage on specific plant families, with many species associated with morning glories (Convolvulaceae) or cacti. As a subspecies of Diadasia australis, it is native to western North America. The specific epithet "californica" indicates its occurrence in California.
Diadasia laticauda
Diadasia laticauda is a solitary bee species in the family Apidae, described by Cockerell in 1905. It belongs to the genus Diadasia, which comprises ground-nesting bees commonly known as cactus bees due to their specialized association with cactus pollen. Like other members of its genus, D. laticauda is likely a pollen specialist, though specific host plant associations for this species remain poorly documented. The species is native to North America.
Diadasia ochracea
Ochraceous Chimney Bee
Diadasia ochracea, commonly known as the ochraceous chimney bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Apidae. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Diadasia, it is likely a pollen specialist, though specific host plants for this species are not documented in available sources.
Epeolus americanus
American Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus americanus is a cleptoparasitic bee (cuckoo bee) in the family Apidae. It was newly confirmed in 2020 to parasitize the solitary bee Colletes consors mesocopus, with the first instar larva described for the first time. The species belongs to a genus of bees that invade nests of polyester bees (genus Colletes) and lacks the branched body hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees.
Epeolus australus
Epeolus australus is a cleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bee in the genus Epeolus, a group of bees that do not construct their own nests or collect pollen. Like other members of its genus, this species invades the nests of host bees, primarily those in the genus Colletes (polyester bees), where it lays eggs that hatch into larvae that consume the host's provisions and offspring. The species is one of approximately 43 known Epeolus species in North America, with new species in this genus continuing to be described due to their small size, rarity relative to their hosts, and wasp-like appearance that makes them difficult to detect.
Epeolus autumnalis
Autumnal Cellophane-Cuckoo, cuckoo bee
Epeolus autumnalis is a cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, found in North America. As a member of the genus Epeolus, it is a nest parasite of polyester bees in the genus Colletes. Like other cuckoo bees, it lacks the branched body hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees and instead relies on host bees to provision its offspring. The species was described by Robertson in 1902.
Epeolus axillaris
Epeolus axillaris is a species of cuckoo bee described in 2018 by Thomas Onuferko. It belongs to the cleptoparasitic genus Epeolus, whose members lay eggs in the nests of host bees rather than constructing their own nests or collecting pollen. The species is one of fifteen new Epeolus species described from North America in a comprehensive revision of the genus.
Epeolus barberiellus
Barber's Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus barberiellus is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1907. As a member of the genus Epeolus, it is a cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of host bees, primarily species in the genus Colletes (cellophane bees). The species is known from North America, though specific details about its distribution, abundance, and ecological relationships remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners.
Epeolus bifasciatus
Two-banded Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus bifasciatus is a cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the Two-banded Cellophane-cuckoo Bee. As a member of the genus Epeolus, it parasitizes nests of polyester bees in the genus Colletes, specifically targeting Colletes latitarsis. The species is distributed across Central America and North America.
Epeolus canadensis
Canadian Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus canadensis is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. It is a kleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bee species. The species is found in North America, with records from the United States and Canada.
Epeolus carolinus
Carolina Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus carolinus is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Mitchell in 1962. As a cleptoparasitic bee, it lays eggs in the nests of host bee species rather than constructing its own nests or collecting pollen. The species is native to North America and is one of approximately 43 recognized Epeolus species on the continent. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with polyester bees (Colletes) as hosts.
Epeolus flavofasciatus
Yellow-banded Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus flavofasciatus is a cleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bee in the family Apidae, first described by Smith in 1879. Like other members of the genus Epeolus, this species does not construct its own nests or collect pollen, instead laying eggs in the nests of host bees, primarily those in the genus Colletes (polyester bees). The species is characterized by its distinctive yellow-banded coloration and relatively small size. It occurs in North and Middle America, with records from the United States, Mexico, and Guatemala.
Epeolus glabratus
Smooth Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus glabratus is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. As a cleptoparasite, females lay eggs in the nests of host bees rather than constructing their own nests or collecting pollen. The species is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Epeolus, it likely targets nests of polyester bees in the genus Colletes, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Epeolus howardi
Howard's Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus howardi, commonly known as Howard's cellophane-cuckoo bee, is a species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae. As a member of the genus Epeolus, it is a nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of host bees rather than constructing its own nest or collecting pollen. The species is known from North America and was described by Mitchell in 1962.
Epeolus interruptus
Interrupted Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus interruptus is a cleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bee in the family Apidae, native to North America. First described by Robertson in 1900, this species invades the nests of polyester bees (genus Colletes) to lay its eggs. Like other cuckoo bees, females lack the branched body hairs used for pollen collection and instead rely on host bees to provision their offspring. The species exhibits reduced pilosity compared to non-parasitic bees, giving it a wasp-like appearance.
Epeolus mesillae
Mesilla Cellophane Bee
Epeolus mesillae is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1895. As a kleptoparasite, it invades the nests of host bees to lay its eggs, with its offspring consuming the host's provisions. The species is recorded from North America and Middle America. Like other Epeolus species, it lacks the branched body hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees and instead exhibits color patterns of short black, white, red, and yellow hairs.
Epeolus minimus
Least Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus minimus is a small cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the Least Cellophane-cuckoo Bee. As a member of the cuckoo bee genus Epeolus, it invades the nests of host bees to lay its eggs, relying on host-collected pollen provisions rather than gathering its own. The species is native to North America and has been documented in the northeastern United States, including Vermont. Like other Epeolus species, it lacks the branched body hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees, giving it a wasp-like appearance.
Epeolus pusillus
Dwarf Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus pusillus is a cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cresson in 1864. The species is a specialized nest parasite of two cellophane bee species in the genus Colletes: C. compactus and C. ciliatoides. As a cuckoo bee, females lay eggs in host nests where their larvae kill the host egg or larva and consume the pollen provisions. The species is known from the United States and Mexico.
Epeolus scutellaris
red-chested cuckoo nomad bee, Notch-backed Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus scutellaris is a cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae. As a cuckoo bee, it does not construct nests or collect pollen, instead laying eggs in the nests of host bees. The species occurs in North America and Mexico. It is one of approximately 43 Epeolus species recognized in North America.
Epeolus splendidus
Splendid Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus splendidus is a cleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bee species described by Onuferko in 2018. As a member of the genus Epeolus, it invades the nests of polyester bees in the genus Colletes, where females lay eggs that hatch into larvae that kill the host egg or larva and consume the stored pollen. The species name 'splendidus' refers to its attractive appearance, characterized by short black, white, red, and yellow hairs forming distinctive patterns. Like other Epeolus species, it lacks the branched hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees due to its parasitic lifestyle.
Epeolus zonatus
Zoned Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus zonatus is a cuckoo bee species in the family Apidae, first described by Smith in 1854. As a cleptoparasite, it lays eggs in the nests of host bees rather than building its own. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its biology and host associations remain limited in the available literature.
Ericrocidini
cuckoo bees
Ericrocidini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bees within the family Apidae, containing 11 genera and approximately 42 species distributed throughout the Neotropics. These bees are obligate parasites of oil-collecting bees, primarily attacking nests of Centris (Centridini) and, in one derived case, Epicharis. Females do not construct nests or collect pollen; instead, they invade host nests, kill host eggs or larvae, and deposit their eggs in provisioned brood cells. The tribe diverged from related lineages approximately 74 million years ago in the Cretaceous, with host specialization evolving synchronously with their Centris and Epicharis hosts during the Eocene.
Ericrocis
Ericrocis is a genus of kleptoparasitic bees in the family Apidae, commonly known as centris-cuckoo bees. The genus comprises at least four described species distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico. As cuckoo bees, Ericrocis species do not construct their own nests but instead lay eggs in the nests of host bees, primarily in the genus Centris. The genus was established by Cresson in 1887 and belongs to the tribe Ericrocidini.