Megachilidae
Guides
Osmia subfasciata
Osmia subfasciata is a solitary mason bee in the family Megachilidae, native to Central and North America. It is one of approximately 140 Osmia species present in North America. The species belongs to a genus valued for pollination services, particularly in orchard agriculture. Two subspecies are recognized: O. s. subfasciata and O. s. miamiensis.
Paranthidium jugatorium
Sunflower Burrowing-Resin bee
Paranthidium jugatorium is a resin bee in the family Megachilidae, commonly known as the Sunflower Burrowing-Resin bee. It is native to North and Central America, with records spanning from the southwestern United States through Mexico. The species belongs to the tribe Anthidiini, a group known for constructing nests using plant resins and other materials. Four subspecies are recognized, differing in geographic distribution and minor morphological traits.
Paranthidium jugatorium jugatorium
Paranthidium jugatorium jugatorium is a subspecies of resin bee in the family Megachilidae, distributed across northern and central Mexico. As a member of the tribe Anthidiini, it constructs nests using plant resins and other materials. The subspecies was originally described by Thomas Say in 1824. It belongs to a genus characterized by compact, often boldly patterned bees that are active primarily during warm seasons.
Paranthidium jugatorium perpictum
Paranthidium jugatorium perpictum is a subspecies of wool-carder bee in the family Megachilidae. It belongs to a genus of solitary bees known for collecting plant fibers to line their nest cells. The subspecies is endemic to central and northwestern Mexico. Like other members of Paranthidium, it is presumed to be a solitary nester, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Protosmia rubifloris
Prong-faced Slender-Mason
Protosmia rubifloris is a small mason bee in the family Megachilidae, commonly known as the Prong-faced Slender-Mason. It belongs to the genus Protosmia, a group of slender-bodied bees that construct nests using mud or plant resins. The species occurs across Central and North America. As with other megachilids, females carry pollen on the underside of the abdomen rather than on the legs.
Pseudoanthidium
Small Carder Bees, African Carder Bee (for P. repetitum)
Pseudoanthidium is a genus of small carder bees in the family Megachilidae, first described by Friese in 1898. The genus occurs across Eurasia, Africa, and Australia, with nine species recorded in Europe. Some species are cavity-nesters that utilize plant fibers and foreign materials for nest construction. The introduced African carder bee (P. repetitum) has established populations in eastern and Western Australia since 2000 and shows potential for continued range expansion.
Pseudoanthidium nanum nanum
Pseudoanthidium nanum nanum is a synonymized subspecies of the small mason bee Pseudoanthidium nanum (Mocsáry, 1880), originally described from Europe. The subspecific epithet has been synonymized under the nominate species, which is now treated as a single widespread taxon. The species belongs to the tribe Anthidiini (wool-carder and mason bees) within Megachilidae, characterized by their use of plant fibers or resin in nest construction.
Stelis
leach orchids
Stelis is a genus of Old World cleptoparasitic bees in the family Megachilidae, tribe Anthidiini. These bees are obligate cleptoparasites, meaning they do not construct their own nests but instead lay eggs in the nests of host bees, where their larvae consume the host's pollen provisions. The genus was established by Panzer in 1806 and contains multiple species distributed across Europe, Asia, and into the Arabian Peninsula. Some species have shown recent range expansions, with new country records continuing to be documented.
Stelis australis
Stelis australis is a species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Megachilidae, described by Cresson in 1878. As a member of the genus Stelis, this species is a nest parasite of other solitary bees, particularly those in the family Megachilidae. The specific epithet 'australis' suggests a southern distribution, though detailed biological information remains limited. Like other Stelis species, females likely enter host nests to lay eggs in provisioned cells, with larvae consuming the host's pollen stores and sometimes the host egg or larva.
Stelis australis floridensis
Stelis australis floridensis is a subspecies of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Mitchell in 1962. Like other members of the genus Stelis, this bee is a kleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees, primarily megachilid hosts. The subspecific epithet 'floridensis' indicates its association with Florida. Very few observations of this taxon have been recorded.
Stelis costalis
cuckoo bee
Stelis costalis is a species of cleptoparasitic bee (cuckoo bee) in the family Megachilidae. The species is known from North America and Central America. In 2020, it was documented as a parasite of the giant resin bee Megachile sculpturalis, representing the first recorded host association for this species.
Stelis diversicolor
All-black Dark Bee
Stelis diversicolor is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, first described by Crawford in 1916. It is found in Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Stelis, this species is a cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees. The species is known from 18 iNaturalist observations and is recognized by the common name 'All-black Dark Bee'.
Stelis interrupta
cuckoo bee
Stelis interrupta is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, first described by Cresson in 1879. As a member of the genus Stelis, it is a cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees. The species is known from North America, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Stelis laticincta
Wide-striped Painted-Dark bee
Stelis laticincta is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, described by Cresson in 1878. As a member of the genus Stelis, it is a kleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees. The species is found in North America.
Stelis louisae
Louisiana Painted-Dark bee
Stelis louisae is a cuckoo bee (kleptoparasite) in the family Megachilidae, described by T.D.A. Cockerell in 1911. It occurs in the eastern United States and Ontario, Canada, with activity recorded from March through September. The species has been observed visiting Helianthus (sunflower) flowers. As a member of the genus Stelis, it likely parasitizes nests of other bees, though specific host records for this species are not documented in the provided sources.
Stelis perpulchra
Stelis perpulchra is a cuckoo bee species in the family Megachilidae, first described by Crawford in 1916. As a member of the genus Stelis, it is a cleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of other bees. The species occurs in both Central America and North America.
Stelis rudbeckiarum
Coneflower Painted-Dark bee
Stelis rudbeckiarum is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, described by Cockerell in 1904. As a member of the genus Stelis, it is an obligate cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees. The species is distributed across North America and Central America. Its specific epithet 'rudbeckiarum' suggests an association with Rudbeckia (coneflowers), likely reflecting host or foraging relationships.
Stelis texana
Stelis texana is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, described by Thorp in 1966. Like other members of the genus Stelis, this species is a cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees, particularly those in the family Megachilidae. The species is known from Texas and adjacent regions in North America. Records indicate presence in Middle America and North America.
Trachusa
Trachusa is a genus of resin bees in the family Megachilidae, tribe Anthidiini, comprising at least 50 described species distributed across the Palearctic region. Recent taxonomic revisions have revealed extensive cryptic diversity, with several species complexes (e.g., T. interrupta and T. pubescens groups) resolved from formerly recognized single widespread species into multiple distinct, often allopatric or narrowly sympatric species. These bees are characterized by resin-collecting behavior and are classified as leafcutter, mason, and resin bees, though specific nesting biology is documented for few species.
Trachusa cordaticeps
Cordate-headed Resin-Leafcutter
Trachusa cordaticeps is a species of resin-leafcutter bee in the family Megachilidae, first described by Michener in 1949. It belongs to the tribe Anthidiini, which includes bees that construct nests using plant resins and leaf pieces. The species is distributed across Central and North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely nests in pre-existing cavities and uses resinous materials for cell construction.
Trachusa dorsalis
Stripe-backed Resin-Leafcutter
Trachusa dorsalis is a species of resin-leafcutter bee in the family Megachilidae. It is native to North America. Members of the genus Trachusa are known for using plant resins in nest construction, a trait that distinguishes them from many other megachilid bees that rely primarily on leaf pieces.
Trachusa larreae
Trachusa larreae is a solitary bee in the family Megachilidae, tribe Anthidiini. It is an oligolectic specialist pollinator of Larrea tridentata (creosote bush), with documented nesting biology and immature stages. The species occurs in arid regions of North and Central America where its host plant is present.
Trachusa manni
Trachusa manni is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae, described by Crawford in 1918. It is a member of the tribe Anthidiini, commonly known as resin bees or wool carder bees. The species is found in North America. Like other members of its genus, it is a solitary bee that constructs nests using plant resins and other materials.
Trachusa timberlakei
Timberlake's Resin-Leafcutter
Trachusa timberlakei is a species of resin-leafcutter bee in the family Megachilidae. It is native to North America. The species was described by H.F. Schwarz in 1928 and is named after entomologist P.H. Timberlake. Like other members of the genus Trachusa, it constructs nests using resin and leaf fragments.