Ground-nesting-bee
Guides
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 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.
Dieunomia nevadensis angelesia
Nevada nomia
Dieunomia nevadensis angelesia is a subspecies of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, originally described by Cockerell in 1910 as a form of Nomia nevadensis. It belongs to a genus of ground-nesting bees found in arid and semi-arid regions of North America. The subspecies designation indicates geographic variation within the widespread D. nevadensis species complex.
Dieunomia nevadensis bakeri
Baker's Nomia
Baker's Nomia is a subspecies of the Nevada nomia, a sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It was described by Cockerell in 1898 and is distinguished from the nominate subspecies by morphological characteristics. The subspecies occurs in western North America, where it is associated with alkali and saline habitats. Like other Dieunomia species, it is a ground-nesting bee with specialized ecological requirements.
Eucera amsinckiae
Eucera amsinckiae is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae, first described by Timberlake in 1969. The species belongs to the genus Eucera, which comprises solitary bees commonly known as squash bees due to their specialized association with cucurbit plants. Males of Eucera species are characterized by exceptionally long antennae, a trait that gives the group its common name. Like other members of its genus, E. amsinckiae is likely an important pollinator of agricultural crops, particularly those in the Cucurbitaceae family.
Habropoda depressa
Habropoda depressa is a species of anthophorine bee in the family Apidae. It is a solitary ground-nesting bee found in North America. Like other members of the genus Habropoda, it is a digger bee that excavates nests in soil. The species was described by Fowler in 1899.
Halictus parallelus
Parallel-striped Sweat Bee
Halictus parallelus is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, native to North America. The common name refers to the distinctive parallel pale bands across the abdomen. Like other halictids, this species is a ground-nesting bee that provisions its burrows with pollen and nectar for its young.
Halictus virgatellus
Comma Sweat Bee
Halictus virgatellus is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1901. It is known from North America and is commonly referred to as the Comma Sweat Bee. Like other members of the genus Halictus, it is a ground-nesting bee. Specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented.
Lasioglossum admirandum
Admirable Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum admirandum is a small sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, one of 84 metallic Dialictus species revised for Canada. Originally described by Sandhouse in 1924, it was synonymized with D. perspicuus before being restored as the senior synonym. Like other Dialictus, it belongs to the most commonly collected bee group in North America and exhibits diverse social systems. The species is part of the largest bee genus globally, with over 1,700 Lasioglossum species worldwide.
Lasioglossum cattellae
A small metallic sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, originally described from the eastern United States. The species was previously known under the synonym Dialictus alternatus until synonymized by Gibbs (2010). Like other members of this large subgenus, it is a ground-nesting bee with likely solitary or weakly social behavior.
Lasioglossum coriaceum
Leathery Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum coriaceum, commonly known as the leathery sweat bee, is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It belongs to one of the largest genera of bees, with over 1,700 described species. Like other Lasioglossum species, it is a ground-nesting bee. The species occurs in North America, with confirmed records from the northeastern United States including Vermont. As a member of Halictidae, it likely exhibits the family's characteristic behavior of visiting flowers for pollen and nectar, and may be attracted to human perspiration for salts and minerals.
Lasioglossum laevissimum
Very Smooth Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum laevissimum is a small metallic sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, one of the most species-rich and taxonomically challenging groups of North American bees. The species was described by Smith in 1853 and has accumulated seven synonymies due to historical difficulties in distinguishing Dialictus species. It occurs in Canada and the northern United States, where it nests in soil and visits flowers for pollen and nectar. Like other Dialictus, it is likely a solitary or weakly social ground-nesting bee with females provisioning individual brood cells.
Lasioglossum leucocomum
Lasioglossum leucocomum is a small metallic sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, one of the largest and most taxonomically challenging bee genera in North America. The species was resurrected from synonymy in a 2010 revision of Canadian Dialictus, which recognized it as a valid species distinct from previously confused names. Like other Dialictus, it is a ground-nesting bee with variable social organization, ranging from solitary to small-colony sociality. The species contributes to pollination services in its native range.
Lasioglossum lionotum
smooth-backed sweat bee
Lasioglossum lionotum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, described by Sandhouse in 1923. Like other members of the genus Lasioglossum, it is a small, ground-nesting bee. The species is known from North America, with confirmed records from Vermont. As with most Lasioglossum species, detailed natural history information specific to L. lionotum is limited.
Lasioglossum lustrans
Two-celled Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum lustrans is a small sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1897. As a member of the genus Lasioglossum—one of the largest bee genera with over 1,700 species—it belongs to a group frequently encountered in bee surveys and monitoring studies. The species is known from North America and is referred to by the common name 'Two-celled Sweat Bee'. Like other halictids, it is a ground-nesting bee and contributes to pollination services in its habitat.
Lasioglossum michiganense
Michigan sweat bee
Lasioglossum michiganense is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Mitchell in 1960. Like other members of the genus Lasioglossum, it is a small bee that may be attracted to human perspiration for the salts and minerals it contains. The species is part of the largest genus of bees, which includes over 1,700 species globally. Specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Lasioglossum nigroviride
Black-and-green Metallic-Sweat bee, black-and-green dialictus sweat bee
Lasioglossum nigroviride is a small metallic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, placed in the subgenus Dialictus. The species was described by Graenicher in 1911 and is one of numerous metallic Lasioglossum species in North America. Halictus (Chloralictus) richardsoni Cockerell was synonymized with this species in Gibbs's 2010 revision of Canadian Dialictus. Like other members of this large genus, it is a ground-nesting bee with likely solitary or semi-social behavior.
Lasioglossum obscurum
Obscure Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum obscurum is a small solitary bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as sweat bees. It belongs to the largest genus of bees, which contains over 1,700 species. Like other Lasioglossum species, it is a ground-nesting bee that typically occurs in North American prairie and grassland habitats. The species was described by Robertson in 1892.
Lasioglossum olympiae
Olympia Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum olympiae is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It is a small, ground-nesting bee native to North America. Like other members of the genus Lasioglossum, it is a generalist pollinator that visits a variety of flowering plants. The species is part of the largest genus of bees, which includes over 1,700 species globally.
Lasioglossum ovaliceps
Oval-headed Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum ovaliceps is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1898. It is native to North America and belongs to the largest genus of bees, which contains over 1,700 species. Like other members of its genus, it is a small, ground-nesting bee that visits flowers for pollen and nectar.
Lasioglossum pacificum
Pacific Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum pacificum is a small sweat bee in the family Halictidae, one of more than 1,700 species in the genus Lasioglossum. The species was described by Cockerell in 1898 and is native to western North America. Like other halictids, it is a ground-nesting bee that visits flowers for pollen and nectar.
Lasioglossum pectinatum
ground cherry sweat bee
Lasioglossum pectinatum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the ground cherry sweat bee. It belongs to the largest genus of bees, Lasioglossum, which contains over 1,700 species. Like other halictids, it is a ground-nesting bee and is attracted to human perspiration for the salts and minerals it contains. The species is documented in North America, with records from Vermont.
Lasioglossum pectorale
Rugose-chested Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum pectorale is a small sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Frederick Smith in 1853. It belongs to the enormous genus Lasioglossum, which contains over 1,700 species of halictid bees worldwide. Like other sweat bees, it is attracted to human perspiration for its salt and mineral content. The species is known to visit flowers of prairie clovers and other forbs.
Lasioglossum pectoraloides
Shiny-breasted Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum pectoraloides is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1895. It belongs to one of the largest genera of bees, with over 1,700 species. Like other members of its genus, it is a solitary or semi-social ground-nesting bee. The species occurs in North America and Middle America.
Lasioglossum pictum
Lasioglossum pictum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Crawford in 1902. Like other members of this large genus, it is a ground-nesting bee. The species is documented from North America. As with many Lasioglossum species, detailed natural history information specific to L. pictum is limited in available sources.
Lasioglossum planatum
Flattened Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum planatum is a small sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, resurrected from synonymy in a 2010 taxonomic revision of Canadian metallic Lasioglossum. It is one of over 1,700 species in the genus Lasioglossum, the largest genus of bees. Like other Dialictus species, it is a ground-nesting bee with variable social behavior. The species occurs in northeastern North America, with confirmed records from Vermont.
Lasioglossum platyparium
sweat bee
Lasioglossum platyparium is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, described by Robertson in 1895. Like other members of the large genus Lasioglossum, it is a small bee that nests in the soil. The species occurs in North America, with records from Vermont and other regions. As with many Lasioglossum species, detailed natural history information is limited.
Lasioglossum semicaeruleum
sweat bee
Lasioglossum semicaeruleum is a small metallic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, subgenus Dialictus. It was described by Cockerell in 1895 and occurs in North America. The species was revised taxonomically in 2010, with two junior synonyms synonymized under it. Like other members of the large genus Lasioglossum, it is a ground-nesting bee and contributes to pollination services in its habitat.
Lasioglossum tarponense
sweat bee
Lasioglossum tarponense is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, described by Mitchell in 1960. It belongs to the genus Lasioglossum, the largest genus of bees with over 1,700 species. Like other halictids, it is a ground-nesting bee. Specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in available literature.
Lasioglossum versans
Friendless Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum versans is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, subgenus Dialictus. It was described by Lovell in 1905 and is one of 84 metallic Dialictus species treated in the Canadian taxonomic revision. The species is known from North America with records from Vermont. Like other members of the large genus Lasioglossum, it is a ground-nesting bee with likely solitary or semi-social nesting biology.
Lasioglossum weemsi
Weems's Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum weemsi is a small sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, one of the most species-rich groups of bees in North America. Originally described by Mitchell in 1960, this species was subsequently documented as a new record for Canada. Like other members of Dialictus, it belongs to a group noted for diverse social systems ranging from solitary to eusocial behavior. The species is part of the larger genus Lasioglossum, which comprises over 1,700 species globally and represents a significant component of native bee communities.
Melissodes paroselae
Parosela Long-horned Bee
Melissodes paroselae is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1905. Like other members of the genus Melissodes, it is characterized by elongated antennae, particularly in males. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the tribe Eucerini, it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee that contributes to pollination of native flora.
Melissodes stearnsi
long-horned bee
Melissodes stearnsi is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae, described by Cockerell in 1905. Like other members of the genus Melissodes, it belongs to the tribe Eucerini, a group of solitary, ground-nesting bees. The species is found in North America. Available information about this species specifically is limited, with most detailed behavioral and ecological knowledge coming from better-studied congeners such as Melissodes agilis.
Melissodes subillatus
Melissodes subillatus is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae, described by LaBerge in 1961. It belongs to a genus of solitary, ground-nesting bees commonly known as long-horned bees due to the elongated antennae of males. Like other Melissodes species, it is native to North America and contributes to pollination of flowering plants. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature.
Melissodes tepidus
Long-horned bee
Melissodes tepidus is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae, native to North and Central America. Like other members of the genus Melissodes, males exhibit distinctive sleeping aggregations on vegetation at night while females nest solitarily in the ground. The species contributes to pollination of various flowering plants. It is one of more than 1600 native bee species recorded in California alone.
Nomia maneei
Manee's Nomia
Nomia maneei is a ground-nesting bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1910. It belongs to the genus Nomia, which includes several species of solitary bees that nest in soil. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented compared to its congener Nomia melanderi, which is intensively managed for alfalfa pollination.
Nomia tetrazonata
four-banded nomia, four-banded nomium
Nomia tetrazonata is a ground-nesting sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the four-banded nomia. The species exhibits communal nesting behavior, with multiple females sharing a common nest entrance while independently constructing and provisioning individual cells within the same burrow system. Males patrol nesting sites and perform stereotyped courtship displays involving leg movements and antennae contact. The species occurs in North and Central America.
Peponapis crassidentata
Peponapis crassidentata is a species of solitary bee in the family Apidae, tribe Eucerini. It belongs to the genus Peponapis, commonly known as squash bees, which are specialist pollinators of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae. The species was described by Cockerell in 1951. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with cucurbit flowers, though specific ecological details for this species are limited in available sources.
Perdita ericameriae
Perdita ericameriae is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1958. The species epithet "ericameriae" suggests a host-plant association with Ericameria, a genus of shrubs in the sunflower family. Like other Perdita species, it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee native to North America. The genus Perdita comprises some of the smallest bees in North America, with many species showing strong floral specialization.
Perdita hooki
Perdita hooki is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Portman & Neff in 2016. As a member of the genus Perdita, it is a small, solitary bee that nests in the ground. The species is found in Middle America and North America. Like other Perdita species, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations have not been documented.
Perdita kiowi
Perdita kiowi is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Griswold in 1988. The genus Perdita comprises small, solitary bees that nest in the ground. This species is found in North America. Like other members of the genus, it is presumed to be a solitary pollinator, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Perdita marcialis
Perdita marcialis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1896. The genus Perdita comprises small, solitary bees, with P. marcialis being among the more diminutive members. The species is documented from Central America and North America. As with other Perdita species, it is likely a ground-nesting solitary bee, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Protandrena abdominalis
Protandrena abdominalis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cresson in 1878 under the genus Calliopsis. It is part of the genus Protandrena, which comprises small to medium-sized bees that nest in the ground. As with other members of the Panurginae subfamily, this species is a solitary bee with no known social behavior. The species name refers to some characteristic of the abdomen, though the specific trait is not detailed in available sources.
Pseudopanurgus atricornis
Pseudopanurgus atricornis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae. It was first described by Cresson in 1878. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Pseudopanurgus, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized bees that nest in the ground.
Pseudopanurgus fraterculus timberlakei
A subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, originally described by Cockerell in 1931. The subspecific epithet honors P.H. Timberlake, a prominent entomologist associated with the University of California, Riverside, whose extensive collections significantly advanced knowledge of North American bees. As a member of the Panurginae, this bee is a solitary ground-nester.
Ptilothrix bombiformis
Hibiscus bee, Eastern digger bee, Hibiscus turret bee
Ptilothrix bombiformis is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the hibiscus bee or eastern digger bee. It is one of only two species of the genus Ptilothrix found in the United States, with a distribution centered in the eastern half of North America. The species is notable for its specialized association with mallow family plants (Malvaceae), particularly Hibiscus species, and for its distinctive nesting behavior involving water transport to excavate hard soil. Females construct turreted nest entrances and are active primarily during summer months when host plants are in bloom.
Svastra atripes
long-horned bee
Svastra atripes is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae, native to North America. The species was originally described as Melissodes atripes by Cresson in 1872. It includes three recognized subspecies: S. a. atrimitra, S. a. atripes, and S. a. georgica. As a member of the tribe Eucerini, it belongs to a group of solitary, ground-nesting bees characterized by elongated antennae in males.
Svastra compta
long-horned bee
Svastra compta is a North American long-horned bee in the tribe Eucerini. Like other Svastra species, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee that forages on composite flowers, particularly members of the Asteraceae family. Males exhibit the characteristic long antennae that give the group its common name and are known to form sleeping aggregations on vegetation at night. The species contributes to native bee diversity in its range.
Svastra obliqua
sunflower bee
Svastra obliqua is a long-horned bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the sunflower bee. It is native to Central America and North America, with three recognized subspecies. The species shows strong floral fidelity to sunflowers (Helianthus) and other members of the Asteraceae family, though it will collect pollen from various aster family plants. Males exhibit distinctive sleeping behavior, clustering on flowers or stems at night while females nest in underground burrows.
Svastra obliqua expurgata
sunflower bee, long-horned digger bee, female long-horned bee
Svastra obliqua expurgata is a subspecies of long-horned bee in the family Apidae, native to western North America. It is commonly known as the 'sunflower bee' due to its strong preference for foraging on sunflowers and other members of the Asteraceae family. The species has been reclassified taxonomically, with some authorities placing North American species formerly in genus Svastra into the genus Epimelissodes. It is a solitary, ground-nesting bee that plays an important role in pollinating native and agricultural plants in its range.