Ground-nesting-bee
Guides
Agapostemon femoratus
Wide-legged Sweat Bee
Agapostemon femoratus is a species of metallic green sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Crawford in 1901. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits sexual dimorphism in coloration. The species occurs in Middle and North America. As a halictid bee, it likely participates in ground-nesting behavior and generalist pollination, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as A. virescens and A. texanus.
Agapostemon poeyi
Poey's metallic green bee, Caribbean green sweat bee
Agapostemon poeyi is a metallic green sweat bee in the family Halictidae, endemic to the Caribbean region. The species was described by Lucas in 1857 and is one of approximately 45 species in the genus Agapostemon. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits striking metallic coloration and is a solitary or primitively social ground-nesting bee. The species contributes to pollination of native and cultivated plants in its island habitats.
Agapostemon splendens
Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee
Agapostemon splendens is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the brown-winged striped sweat bee. It is one of several metallic green bees in the genus Agapostemon found in North America. The species is distinguished by its brownish wing coloration and striped abdominal pattern in males. Like other halictid bees, it is a ground-nesting solitary bee that visits flowers for pollen and nectar.
Agapostemon tyleri
Tyler's Striped Sweat Bee
Agapostemon tyleri is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1917. It belongs to a genus known for metallic green coloration and ground-nesting behavior. The species occurs in North America and Middle America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as A. virescens and A. texanus.
Ancylandrena rozeni
Ancylandrena rozeni is a species of mining bee described by Zavortink in 1994. It belongs to the family Andrenidae, a group of solitary, ground-nesting bees. The species occurs in Central America and North America.
Andrena andrenoides
Colourful Willow Miner Bee
The Colourful Willow Miner Bee (Andrena andrenoides) is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae. It is native to North America and belongs to the large genus Andrena, which comprises over 1,500 species of ground-nesting bees. As a member of this genus, it is a fossorial species that excavates tunnels in soil to create nesting chambers for its offspring. The species was originally described as Panurgus andrenoides by Cresson in 1878 before being transferred to the genus Andrena.
Andrena apacheorum
Andrena apacheorum is a species of mining bee (family Andrenidae) described by Cockerell in 1897. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other Andrena species, it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee. Specific ecological details for this species remain limited in available sources.
Andrena barbara
Barbara's Mining Bee, Barbara's miner
Andrena barbara is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Bouseman & LaBerge in 1979. It is native to North America and belongs to the large genus Andrena, which comprises over 1,500 species of ground-nesting bees. Like other mining bees, it excavates burrows in soil to provision its offspring.
Andrena biscutellata
Andrena biscutellata is a mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Viereck in 1917. It is a solitary, ground-nesting bee found in North America. Like other Andrena species, it excavates tunnels in soil to create nest cells provisioned with pollen for its larvae. The species belongs to a large genus of early-spring to summer-active bees that are important pollinators of wildflowers and crops.
Andrena brooksi
Brooks' andrena
Andrena brooksi, described by Larkin in 2004, is a mining bee in the family Andrenidae. It is known from North America. As a member of the genus Andrena, it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee. Specific ecological details about this species remain limited in published sources.
Andrena canadensis
Canada miner bee, Canada andrena, Canadian Mining Bee
Andrena canadensis is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, native to North America. Like other Andrena species, it nests in the ground and is active in spring. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with most information inferred from genus-level traits.
Andrena confederata
Southern Mining Bee, southern miner
Andrena confederata is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Viereck in 1917. It is native to North America. As a member of the genus Andrena, it is a ground-nesting species that excavates tunnels in soil to provision with pollen for its developing young.
Andrena cressonii cressonii
Andrena cressonii cressonii is a subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae. As a member of the large genus Andrena, it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee. The nominate subspecies was described by Robertson in 1891. Like other Andrena species, females excavate tunnels in soil to create nests provisioned with pollen for their larvae.
Andrena crinita
Andrena crinita is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Bouseman and LaBerge in 1979. It is native to North America and belongs to a large genus of solitary, ground-nesting bees. Like other Andrena species, it excavates tunnels in soil to create nests and provisions brood cells with pollen.
Andrena cyanura
Andrena cyanura is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1916. It is currently treated as a synonym of Andrena transnigra in major taxonomic databases including Catalogue of Life and GBIF. The species was originally described from North America. As a member of the genus Andrena, it would share the general biology of mining bees: solitary, ground-nesting bees that excavate tunnels in soil to provision with pollen for their larvae.
Andrena fracta
Andrena fracta is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Casad and Cockerell in 1896. As a member of the large genus Andrena, it belongs to a group of solitary, ground-nesting bees that are important pollinators in temperate and subtropical regions. The species has been recorded from North America and Middle America, though detailed ecological and biological information remains limited. Like other Andrena species, it likely nests in burrows excavated in soil and provisions its larvae with pollen and nectar.
Andrena haynesi
Haynes' Mining Bee, Haynes's Miner Bee, Haynes' Andrena
Andrena haynesi is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as Haynes' Mining Bee. First described by Viereck and Cockerell in 1914, this species is known from North America. As a member of the genus Andrena, it is a ground-nesting bee that excavates tunnels in soil to provision with pollen and lay eggs.
Andrena lativentris
Andrena lativentris is a species of mining bee (family Andrenidae) described by Timberlake in 1951. It belongs to a large genus of solitary, ground-nesting bees that are important spring pollinators. As with other Andrena species, it likely excavates tunnels in soil to create nests provisioned with pollen for its larvae. The specific epithet 'lativentris' refers to a broad abdomen, a morphological trait that may aid in identification.
Andrena levipes
Andrena levipes is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by LaBerge in 1967. It is a solitary, ground-nesting bee native to North America. As a member of the large genus Andrena, it shares the characteristic fossorial nesting behavior typical of mining bees, excavating tunnels in soil to provision with pollen and nectar for its larvae. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Andrena nuda
Nude Mining Bee, Naked Miner Bee, Nude Andrena
Andrena nuda is a solitary mining bee species in the family Andrenidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from the northeastern United States including Vermont. As a member of the large genus Andrena, it exhibits the fossorial nesting behavior typical of mining bees, constructing underground burrows for reproduction.
Andrena pertristis pertristis
Andrena prima
Black-and-red Miner
Andrena prima is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae. It is found in North America. The species has been recorded in iNaturalist with 58 observations.
Andrena principalis
Andrena principalis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by LaBerge in 1986. It belongs to a large genus of solitary, ground-nesting bees that are important pollinators in temperate regions. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other Andrena species, it is presumed to nest in burrows excavated in soil and to provision its larvae with pollen and nectar, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Andrena rugosa
rugose andrena, wrinkled miner bee, Rugose Mining Bee
Andrena rugosa is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the rugose andrena or wrinkled miner bee. The species is native to North America, with records from the northeastern United States including Vermont. Like other Andrena species, it is a ground-nesting bee that excavates tunnels in soil to provision with pollen for its larvae. The specific epithet "rugosa" refers to a wrinkled or rough appearance, likely describing some aspect of the bee's morphology.
Andrena scotoptera
Andrena scotoptera is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1934. It is found in North America. As a member of the genus Andrena, it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee.
Andrena submoesta
Submoesta Mining Bee
Andrena submoesta is a mining bee species in the family Andrenidae, described by Viereck in 1917. As a solitary bee, it excavates underground tunnels for nesting. The species is recorded from North America, though specific details about its ecology and distribution within that range remain limited. Like other Andrena species, it likely contributes to spring pollination of wildflowers.
Andrena vicina
Neighbouring miner bee, Neighborly Mining Bee
Andrena vicina is a solitary mining bee species in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the neighbourly miner or neighborly mining bee. It is native to North America and exhibits the typical ground-nesting behavior of the genus Andrena, excavating tunnels in soil to provision brood cells with pollen and nectar. Like other Andrena species, it is an important spring pollinator, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Andrena violae
Violet Miner
Andrena violae is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Robertson in 1891. It is native to North America with confirmed records from Vermont and surrounding regions. As a member of the large genus Andrena, it exhibits the fossorial nesting behavior typical of the group, excavating underground tunnels in which to rear its young. The species is known to forage on violet (Viola) species, as indicated by its specific epithet.
Anthophora pacifica
Pacific Digger Bee
Anthophora pacifica is a solitary, ground-nesting digger bee native to western North America. Females excavate burrows in soil to construct individual nests provisioned with pollen and nectar. The species serves as the primary host for the cleptoparasitic bee Melecta pacifica fulvida, which invades its nests to lay eggs. A. pacifica is part of the diverse Anthophora genus, which includes other notable digger bees such as the bumble bee-mimic A. bomboides stanfordiana.
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.
Anthophorula chionura
Anthophorula chionura is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Apidae. It constructs vertical burrows in sandy soil with lateral brood cells, which females provision with a mixture of pollen and nectar. The species exhibits nest aggregation behavior in favorable sites. Formerly classified under Exomalopsis, it was reassigned to Anthophorula based on morphological and biological characteristics.
Augochlorella nigrocyanea
Augochlorella nigrocyanea is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, tribe Augochlorini. The genus Augochlorella contains several species of small, metallic bees that are difficult to distinguish from related genera Augochlora and Augochloropsis without microscopic examination. Members of this genus are known for their bright metallic green, blue-green, or occasionally brassy coloration. Some Augochlorella species exhibit communal nesting or primitively social behavior, with multiple females sharing nest entrances.
Augochlorella pomoniella
Peridot Sweat Bee
Augochlorella pomoniella is a small, metallic green sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Peridot Sweat Bee. It belongs to the tribe Augochlorini, a group of bright metallic bees that are frequently mistaken for cuckoo wasps due to their similar appearance. The species is distributed across North America and Middle America. Like other Augochlorella species, it is a ground-nesting bee that visits flowers for pollen and nectar.
Calliopsis helianthi
Calliopsis helianthi is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae. It is native to Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Calliopsis, this species nests in the ground and is solitary, with each female constructing and provisioning her own nest burrow.
Calliopsis linsleyi
Calliopsis linsleyi is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Rozen in 1958. The species is known from both Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Calliopsis, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee that excavates burrows in soil. Information on this species is limited, with only a few observations recorded.
Calliopsis scitula
Charming Miner Bee
Calliopsis scitula is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the charming miner bee. The species occurs across Central America and North America. Two subspecies are recognized: C. s. scitula and C. s. lawae. Like other members of the genus Calliopsis, it is a small mining bee that constructs burrows in soil.
Calliopsis scutellaris
Calliopsis scutellaris is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Fowler in 1899. The species occurs in Central America and North America. It belongs to a genus of small to very small bees that typically nest in sandy soils.
Calliopsis zonalis
Calliopsis zonalis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cresson in 1879. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus of small, ground-nesting bees. Two subspecies are recognized: C. z. zonalis and C. z. sierrae. The species is poorly documented in published literature, with limited observational records available.
Centris lanosa
Wooly Oil-Digger
Centris lanosa is a specialized oil-collecting bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the wooly oil-digger. It is one of the few bee species that has evolved to collect fatty oils rather than nectar from flowers, specifically from Krameria species. The bee mixes these oils with pollen to provision its larvae. It has a disjunct distribution across the southeastern and southwestern United States, with populations separated by more than 250 km.
Colletes aberrans
Aberrant Cellophane Bee
Colletes aberrans is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the Aberrant Cellophane Bee. It is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Colletes, it constructs subterranean burrows lined with a cellophane-like secretion produced by abdominal glands.
Colletes compactus compactus
plasterer bee
Colletes compactus compactus is a subspecies of plasterer bee in the family Colletidae. As a member of the genus Colletes, it exhibits the characteristic behaviors of ground-nesting solitary bees that line their burrows with a cellophane-like glandular secretion. The subspecies is recorded from North America, with specific documentation from Vermont. Like other Colletes species, it is an early-spring pollinator that provisions subterranean brood cells with nectar and pollen.
Colletes latitarsis
broad-footed cellophane bee
Colletes latitarsis, known as the broad-footed cellophane bee, is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae. Like other members of its genus, it is a ground-nesting bee that constructs burrows lined with a cellophane-like secretion. The species occurs in North America, with documented presence in the northeastern United States including Vermont. As a member of the Colletes genus, it shares the characteristic forked tongue and cellophane bee biology with related species.
Colletes longifacies
Long-faced Cellophane Bee
Colletes longifacies is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae, endemic to Florida and one of only five Colletidae species restricted to that state. It occurs in North-Central Peninsular Florida and the Florida Panhandle. Like other members of its genus, it is a ground-nesting bee that lines its brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion, earning it the common name 'cellophane bee' or 'plasterer bee'.
Colletes simulans armatus
Eastern Spine-shouldered Cellophane Bee
Colletes simulans armatus is a subspecies of polyester bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the Eastern Spine-shouldered Cellophane Bee. Like other members of the genus, females construct solitary underground nests lined with a cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. The subspecies occurs in eastern North America and is active in spring. Males emerge before females and engage in competitive mating behavior at nesting aggregations.
Colletes simulans nevadensis
Colletes simulans nevadensis is a subspecies of polyester bee in the family Colletidae. Like other members of the genus Colletes, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee. The subspecies was described by Swenk in 1908. Information specific to this subspecies is limited in available sources.
Colletes slevini
Slevin's cellophane bee, Slevin's polyester bee
Colletes slevini, commonly known as Slevin's cellophane bee or Slevin's polyester bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae. As a member of the genus Colletes, it shares the characteristic behavior of lining its underground brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion produced from the Dufour's gland. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its range and biology remain limited in published sources. Like other Colletes species, it is a native pollinator that emerges in spring.
Colletes tectiventris
Hairy-tailed Cellophane Bee
Colletes tectiventris is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the Hairy-tailed Cellophane Bee. Like other Colletes species, it constructs subterranean burrows lined with a cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. The species was described by Timberlake in 1951 and occurs in North America. Specific details about its biology remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as C. inaequalis and C. thoracicus.
Colletes thoracicus
Rufous-backed Cellophane Bee, Rufous-chested Cellophane Bee
Colletes thoracicus, commonly known as the rufous-backed cellophane bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee native to North America. It belongs to the family Colletidae, which are known as plasterer or cellophane bees due to their unique nesting behavior. Females construct individual burrows in sandy soils and line the interior chambers with a cellophane-like secretion produced by a gland in their abdomen, creating waterproof brood cells. This species emerges early in spring and is an important native pollinator of early-blooming plants.
Colletes ultravalidus
Sandhills Cellophane Bee
Colletes ultravalidus is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae, described in 2016. As a member of the genus Colletes, it shares the characteristic behavior of lining underground brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. The species is known from the Sandhills region of North Carolina.
Colletes wilmattae
cellophane bee, polyester bee, plasterer bee
Colletes wilmattae is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae, first described by Theodore Cockerell in 1904. Like other members of its genus, it is commonly known as a cellophane bee, polyester bee, or plasterer bee due to the distinctive cellophane-like lining females create in their underground brood cells. The species is native to North America, occurring in both the United States and Canada. As a solitary ground-nesting bee, it plays a role in early-season pollination.