Desert-bees
Guides
Ancylandrena
Ancylandrena is a genus of mining bees in the family Andrenidae, established by Cockerell in 1930. The genus contains five described species, all found in North America. One species, Ancylandrena larreae, is commonly known as the creosote bush ancylandrena due to its association with Larrea tridentata. These are solitary bees that nest in the ground.
Centris
Oil-diggers
Centris is a genus of approximately 250 large apid bees distributed from the southern United States through South America. Females are specialized oil collectors, possessing morphological adaptations for gathering floral oils from plants, primarily in the family Malpighiaceae, which they use for larval nutrition and cell construction. The genus is sister to the corbiculate bees (honey bees, bumble bees, stingless bees) and represents an important lineage for understanding bee evolution and pollination ecology.
Conanthalictus
Conanthalictus is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, established by Cockerell in 1901. The genus comprises approximately 13 described species distributed in North America, primarily in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Species in this genus are small to medium-sized bees associated with the tribe Rophitini.
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.
Macrotera
Goblin Bees
Macrotera is a genus of mining bees (Andrenidae) native to North America, with approximately 30 species. These bees range from 2.0 to 16.0 mm in body length and are predominantly found in desert regions of the United States and Mexico. The genus was segregated from Perdita by C.D. Michener in 2000. Most species exhibit extreme pollen specialization (oligolecty), with documented associations to Sphaeralcea and Cactaceae.
Martinapis
morning long-horned bees
Martinapis is a genus of long-horned bees in the family Apidae, established by Cockerell in 1929. The genus contains at least three described species distributed in western North America. These bees are notable for their early morning foraging activity, a trait reflected in common names for some species. The genus belongs to the tribe Eucerini, a group characterized by males having exceptionally long antennae.
Micralictoides
Micralictoides is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, comprising eight described species. The genus was established by Timberlake in 1939 and is classified within the subfamily Rophitinae. Species in this genus are native to western North America, particularly arid regions of California and the Mojave Desert. They are small to medium-sized bees associated with specific host plants.
Perditina
Fairy Bees, Goblin Bees, False Goblin Bees
Perditina is a subtribe of small bees within the family Andrenidae, commonly known as Fairy Bees, Goblin Bees, and False Goblin Bees. These bees are among the smallest bees in North America, with many species measuring only a few millimeters in length. The subtribe includes the genus *Perdita*, which is extraordinarily diverse with over 800 described species, many of which are specialized pollen collectors on specific host plants. Perditina bees are primarily solitary ground-nesters and are important pollinators, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Their minute size and often striking metallic coloration distinguish them from other bee groups.
Protoxaea
Protoxaea is a genus of mining bees in the family Andrenidae, containing at least three described species. The genus is notable for the well-documented territorial behavior of males in at least one species, Protoxaea gloriosa. These bees are associated with flowering plants in arid environments and exhibit complex mating systems involving male territoriality and female resource collection.
Xeralictus
Xeralictus sweat bees
Xeralictus is a genus of small sweat bees in the family Halictidae, subfamily Rophitinae. The genus contains at least three described species, including X. bicuspidariae, X. biscuspidariae, and X. timberlakei. These bees are associated with desert environments in southwestern North America and exhibit specialized pollination relationships involving floral mimicry systems.