Masked-bee
Guides
Hylaeus affinis
eastern masked bee
Hylaeus affinis, commonly known as the eastern masked bee, is a small solitary bee in the family Colletidae. It is native to North America and belongs to the genus Hylaeus, whose members are often called masked bees or yellow-faced bees due to their distinctive facial markings. Like other Hylaeus species, it is nearly hairless and resembles small wasps in appearance. The species nests in pre-existing cavities and transports pollen and nectar internally rather than on body hairs.
Hylaeus basalis
Cinquefoil Masked Bee
Hylaeus basalis is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the Cinquefoil Masked Bee. It is native to North America and belongs to the genus Hylaeus, a group of nearly hairless bees often mistaken for wasps. Like other masked bees, females lack pollen-carrying structures and instead transport nectar and pollen internally in a crop, regurgitating food stores at the nest. The species has been documented in Colorado and Vermont.
Hylaeus communis
Common Masked Bee
Hylaeus communis is a small, nearly hairless solitary bee native to the Palearctic region and recently introduced to North America. It is one of the most common and adaptable species in its genus, exhibiting extreme generalism in habitat use and floral visitation. Females transport nectar and pollen internally in a crop, rather than on body hairs, and nest in pre-existing cavities. The species is partially bivoltine with flight activity from late May through September.
Hylaeus episcopalis
Episcopal Masked Bee
Hylaeus episcopalis is a species of masked bee in the family Colletidae, first described by Cockerell in 1896. Like other members of its genus, it is a solitary, nearly hairless bee that transports pollen and nectar internally rather than on body hairs. The species occurs in North America and is one of approximately 50 Hylaeus species on the continent. Four subspecies have been described: H. e. coquilletti, H. e. episcopalis, H. e. giffardiellus, and H. e. metzi.
Hylaeus episcopalis coquilletti
Hylaeus episcopalis coquilletti is a subspecies of yellow-faced bee in the family Colletidae. As with other members of the genus Hylaeus, this bee is nearly hairless and wasp-like in appearance, lacking the dense hair typical of most bees. Females have distinctive yellow or white markings on the inner margin of each eye, while males have the entire face colored yellow or white. These solitary bees nest in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems or twigs, lining cells with a natural polymer secretion. The subspecies epithet "coquilletti" honors the entomologist James Charles Coquillett.
Hylaeus euxanthus
Yellow-collared Masked Bee
A small, nearly hairless bee in the family Colletidae, native to Australia and introduced to Argentina. First described by Cockerell in 1910, it was originally named Prosopis xanthopoda but renamed due to preoccupation. It belongs to the subgenus Gnathoprosopis and exhibits typical masked bee characteristics including reduced pilosity and internal pollen transport.
Hylaeus fedorica
Hylaeus fedorica is a species of masked bee (yellow-faced bee) in the family Colletidae. The species was described by Cockerell in 1909. Like other members of the genus Hylaeus, it is a solitary bee with distinctive facial markings. The genus is characterized by nearly hairless bodies that resemble wasps, and females that transport pollen and nectar internally rather than on body hairs.
Hylaeus floridanus
Florida Masked Bee
Hylaeus floridanus is a species of masked bee (yellow-faced bee) in the family Colletidae. Like other members of its genus, it is nearly hairless and wasp-like in appearance, transporting pollen and nectar internally in a crop rather than externally on body hairs. Females nest in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems or twigs, lining cells with a secreted polymer. The species is native to Florida and the southeastern United States.
Hylaeus graenicheri
Graenicher's Masked Bee, Graenicher's Yellow-faced Bee
Hylaeus graenicheri is a species of masked bee in the family Colletidae, endemic to southern Florida. It is one of only five Colletidae species restricted entirely to Florida. Like other members of the genus Hylaeus, it is nearly hairless and wasp-like in appearance, with yellow or white facial markings. The species is poorly known due to its restricted range and limited study.
Hylaeus hyalinatus
Hairy masked bee
Hylaeus hyalinatus is a species of masked bee in the family Colletidae. It is native to Europe, including Great Britain, and has been introduced to North America where it is considered invasive. Like other members of genus Hylaeus, it is nearly hairless and wasp-like in appearance, with females transporting pollen and nectar internally rather than on body hairs.
Hylaeus leptocephalus
Slender-faced Masked Bee
Hylaeus leptocephalus is a small solitary bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the Slender-faced Masked Bee. Native to the Palearctic region, it has been established in North America since 1912. Like other masked bees, it is nearly hairless and transports pollen and nectar internally rather than on body hairs. The species nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems and twigs.
Hylaeus mesillae
Mesilla Masked Bee
Hylaeus mesillae, commonly known as the Mesilla Masked Bee, is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae. It is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Hylaeus, it is nearly hairless and often mistaken for small wasps. The species was first described by Cockerell in 1896 and includes three recognized subspecies.
Hylaeus mesillae cressoni
Cresson's Masked Bee
Hylaeus mesillae cressoni is a subspecies of masked bee in the family Colletidae. Like other members of the genus Hylaeus, it is nearly hairless and often mistaken for a small wasp. The species is distributed in North America and Middle America. As a solitary bee, each female constructs her own nest in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems or twigs.
Hylaeus modestus
modest masked bee, yellow-faced bee
A small, nearly hairless solitary bee in the family Colletidae, native to North America. Females transport pollen and nectar internally in a crop, then regurgitate it into brood cells lined with a secreted polymer. The species has been observed visiting annual flowers in garden settings and is a generalist forager. A gynandromorph specimen with bilaterally asymmetric male and female characteristics was documented from Ontario, Canada.
Hylaeus modestus citrinifrons
Modest masked bee
Hylaeus modestus citrinifrons is a subspecies of the modest masked bee, a small, nearly hairless solitary bee in the family Colletidae. It is part of a genus commonly known as yellow-faced or masked bees due to distinctive facial markings. The species H. modestus has been documented visiting flowers in garden and agricultural settings. Like other Hylaeus, it is a cavity-nesting bee that uses pre-existing hollow stems or twigs rather than excavating its own burrows.
Hylaeus modestus modestus
modest masked bee, yellow-faced bee
Hylaeus modestus modestus is a subspecies of the modest masked bee, a small, nearly hairless solitary bee in the family Colletidae. Like other Hylaeus species, it lacks scopal hairs for pollen transport and instead carries nectar and pollen internally in a crop, regurgitating food stores at the nest. The subspecies has been recorded in Canada and the United States, including a notable gynandromorph specimen from Ontario. It is one of approximately 50 Hylaeus species in North America and belongs to the subgenus Prosopis.
Hylaeus nelumbonis
Nelumbo Masked Bee
Hylaeus nelumbonis is a species of masked bee (family Colletidae) native to North America. Like other members of the genus Hylaeus, it is a solitary, nearly hairless bee that resembles small wasps in appearance. The species name "nelumbonis" suggests an association with Nelumbo (lotus), though specific ecological relationships remain poorly documented. As with most Hylaeus species, females transport nectar internally in a crop rather than externally on body hairs.
Hylaeus ornatus
Ornate Masked Bee
Hylaeus ornatus, commonly known as the ornate masked bee, is a species of solitary bee in the family Colletidae. It is native to North America and belongs to the genus Hylaeus, commonly called masked bees or yellow-faced bees due to their distinctive pale facial markings. Like other members of its genus, it is nearly hairless and carries pollen internally rather than on body hairs.
Hylaeus polifolii
Buckwheat Masked Bee
Hylaeus polifolii is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the buckwheat masked bee. It is native to North America and belongs to the genus Hylaeus, a group of nearly hairless bees often mistaken for wasps due to their slender appearance. The species has two recognized subspecies: H. p. catalinensis and H. p. polifolii. Like other masked bees, females transport pollen and nectar internally in a crop rather than on body hairs.
Hylaeus punctatus
Punctate Masked Bee, Punctate Spatulate-Masked Bee
Hylaeus punctatus is a species of masked bee in the family Colletidae, native to North America. Like other members of its genus, it is nearly hairless and wasp-like in appearance, with distinctive facial markings. This solitary bee nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems or twigs, lining cells with a glandular secretion. It is a generalist pollinator that transports pollen and nectar internally rather than on body hairs.
Hylaeus schwarzii
Schwarz's Masked Bee
Hylaeus schwarzii is a species of masked bee in the family Colletidae, native to North America. Like other members of the genus Hylaeus, it is a solitary, nearly hairless bee that superficially resembles small wasps. The species was described by Cockerell in 1896 and is one of approximately 50 Hylaeus species occurring in North America. Very little species-specific information is documented for H. schwarzii; most knowledge of its biology is inferred from the broader genus.
Hylaeus verticalis
Vertical Masked Bee
Hylaeus verticalis, commonly known as the Vertical Masked Bee, is a species of solitary bee in the family Colletidae. It is native to North America and belongs to the genus Hylaeus, a group of nearly hairless bees often mistaken for wasps due to their appearance. Like other masked bees, females carry pollen and nectar internally in a crop rather than on body hairs, and nest in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems or twigs.