Mining-bee
Guides
Calliopsis coloradensis
Colorado Calliopsis Bee
A small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, native to western North America. Females are solitary ground-nesters that provision burrows with pollen and nectar for their offspring. Males are often observed flying low over nesting aggregations in search of mates. The species is associated with sandy soils in prairie and open habitats.
Calliopsis filiorum
Calliopsis filiorum is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Rozen in 1963. The species belongs to the genus Calliopsis, a group of small to medium-sized ground-nesting bees. Like other members of Andrenidae, females construct solitary burrows in soil. The specific epithet "filiorum" (Latin for "of the daughters") presumably references an aspect of the species' biology or discovery context.
Calliopsis fracta
Calliopsis fracta is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, originally described as Nomadopsis fracta by Rozen in 1952. It belongs to the tribe Calliopsini within the subfamily Panurginae. The species is native to North America and is part of a diverse genus of solitary bees that nest in the ground.
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 hesperia
Calliopsis hesperia is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Swenk and Cockerell in 1907. The species is native to North America and belongs to a genus of small, ground-nesting bees commonly found in sandy soils. Two subspecies are recognized: C. h. hesperia and C. h. equina. As a member of the Panurginae subfamily, this bee is part of a diverse group of solitary bees that are important native pollinators.
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 nebraskensis
Nebraska calliopsis
Calliopsis nebraskensis, the Nebraska calliopsis, is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae. It is a ground-nesting solitary bee native to North America. The species was described by Crawford in 1902. Like other members of the genus Calliopsis, it likely nests in sandy or loose soils.
Calliopsis obscurella
Calliopsis obscurella is a small mining bee species in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cresson in 1879. It occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee. Specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented.
Calliopsis puellae
desert-dandelion nomadopsis
Calliopsis puellae is a mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the desert-dandelion nomadopsis. The species was described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1933, originally placed in the genus Spinoliella. Its type specimen was collected by Wilmatte Porter Cockerell and her great-niece Lelah Milene Porter in Colorado, and is housed at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology. The species is found in Central America and North America.
Calliopsis pugionis
Pugnosed Miner Bee
Calliopsis pugionis is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1925. It is found in North America, where it excavates burrows in sandy soil. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism with females larger than males, and has a female-biased investment sex ratio consistent with local mate competition theory. It serves as the host for the cleptoparasitic bee Holcopasites ruthae.
Calliopsis rhodophila
Calliopsis rhodophila is a mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1897. The species occurs in Central and North America, where it nests in sandy soils. Like other members of the genus, it is solitary and ground-nesting. Observations of related Calliopsis species suggest males are notably larger than typical for the genus and exhibit hovering flight behavior near female nesting sites.
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 subalpina
Calliopsis subalpina is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1894. As a member of the genus Calliopsis, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized solitary bees that nest in the ground. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with records spanning from middle to high elevations. Like other Andrenidae, females construct individual burrows in soil to provision with pollen and nectar for their offspring.
Calliopsis zebrata bobbae
A subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, known from sandy soils in Colorado and adjacent regions. Males are notably larger than typical for the genus Calliopsis and exhibit distinctive flight behavior, hovering persistently over nesting sites. The subspecies was described by Rozen in 1958 and is part of the diverse native bee fauna of western North America.
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.
Megandrena
encelia megandrena
Megandrena is a genus of mining bees in the family Andrenidae. The genus was established by Cockerell in 1927. It contains at least two described species: Megandrena enceliae and Megandrena mentzeliae. These bees are solitary ground-nesting bees characteristic of the Andrenidae family.
Megandrena enceliae
encelia megandrena
Megandrena enceliae is a mining bee in the family Andrenidae, originally described as Andrena enceliae by Cockerell in 1927. The species was later transferred to the genus Megandrena. It occurs in North America and is one of relatively few species in this small bee genus.
Panurginus
mining bees
Panurginus is a genus of mining bees in the family Andrenidae, with more than 50 described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Species occur in diverse habitats including alpine zones of Central Europe, the Siberian taiga, and steppe regions of Central Asia. Some species, such as P. herzi and P. montanus, are morphologically very similar and require quantitative measurements for reliable identification. The genus exhibits variable pollen host specialization, with individual species ranging from narrow specialists to broad generalists.
Panurginus occidentalis
Panurginus occidentalis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Crawford in 1916. The species belongs to the subfamily Panurginae, a group of solitary bees that typically nest in soil. It is native to North America.
Perdita albipennis
white-winged fairy bee, white-winged perdita, shiny green miner bee
Perdita albipennis is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the white-winged fairy bee or shiny green miner bee. It was described by Cresson in 1868. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Three subspecies are recognized: P. a. albipennis, P. a. canadensis, and P. a. mut.
Perdita bequaerti
Bequaert's miner bee, Bequaert's perdita
Perdita bequaerti is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, native to North America. The species was described by Viereck in 1917 and is one of many small, solitary bees in the genus Perdita. It is known to occur in two subspecies: the nominate P. b. bequaerti and P. b. indianensis described by Cockerell in 1922. Like other Perdita species, it is a ground-nesting bee that excavates burrows in soil.
Perdita bequaertiana
Perdita bequaertiana is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cockerell in 1951. It belongs to the subgenus Perdita (Xerophasma), which is endemic to the Mojave Desert region of western North America. The species has been the subject of recent taxonomic revision that provided new distributional records. Members of this subgenus show evolutionary trends toward nocturnal foraging and pale coloration.
Perdita bicuspidariae
Perdita bicuspidariae is a small solitary bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1962. It belongs to the large genus Perdita, which comprises over 800 species of mining bees in North America. The species is found in Central America and North America. As with other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a ground-nesting solitary bee, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Perdita californica
California Fairy Bee
Perdita californica is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the California Fairy Bee. The species is native to California and Baja California, with two recognized subspecies: P. c. californica and P. c. inopina. Like other members of the genus Perdita, it is a solitary bee. The genus Perdita contains over 700 species, many of which are specialist pollinators with narrow host plant associations.
Perdita calochorti
Perdita calochorti is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1956. The specific epithet 'calochorti' suggests an association with Calochortus, a genus of flowering plants commonly known as mariposa lilies or cat's ears. Like other members of the genus Perdita, it is a solitary bee native to North America. The species is represented by minimal observation records, with only one documented iNaturalist observation.
Perdita cladothricis
Perdita cladothricis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1896. It belongs to the large genus Perdita, which contains hundreds of small, often specialist pollinator species native to North America. The species is recorded from Central America and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a solitary, ground-nesting bee, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Perdita claypolei
Perdita claypolei is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1901. It belongs to the genus Perdita, which comprises small, solitary bees commonly known as miner bees. The genus Perdita includes some of the smallest bees in North America, with species ranging from approximately 2 mm to over 10 mm in length. Perdita species are typically specialist pollinators, often associated with specific host plants.
Perdita coreopsidis
Coreopsis Fairy Bee, tickseed perdita
Perdita coreopsidis is a small solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the Coreopsis Fairy Bee or tickseed perdita. The species was described by Cockerell in 1906 and belongs to the large genus Perdita, which contains hundreds of North American species. Four subspecies are recognized, indicating geographic variation across its range. The specific epithet "coreopsidis" suggests a likely association with Coreopsis (tickseed) plants, though this relationship requires confirmation.
Perdita distropica
Perdita distropica is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1956. As a member of the genus Perdita, it belongs to a diverse group of small, solitary bees native to North America. The specific epithet 'distropica' suggests a distribution pattern that may deviate from typical tropical or subtropical ranges expected for the group. Like other Perdita species, it is likely a ground-nesting solitary bee, though detailed biological studies are limited.
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 fallugiae
Apache Plume Fairy Bee
Perdita fallugiae is a small solitary bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the Apache Plume Fairy Bee. The species was described by Timberlake in 1956. It is found in North America and is associated with Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa), a flowering shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. As a member of the genus Perdita, it is likely a specialist pollinator with a narrow host-plant range.
Perdita fieldi
Perdita fieldi is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1956. It belongs to the large genus Perdita, which contains over 800 species of small, often specialist bees native to North America. Like other Perdita species, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee. The specific epithet honors an individual with the surname Field, though the namesake's identity is not documented in available sources.
Perdita genalis
Perdita genalis is a small, solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1964. It belongs to the genus Perdita, which comprises numerous diminutive bees often specialized in their foraging habits. Members of this genus are among the smallest bees in North America. The species has been documented in Middle America and North America.
Perdita genalis genalis
Perdita genalis genalis is a subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1964. The genus Perdita comprises small, solitary bees that nest in soil. Members of this genus are among the smallest bees in North America. This subspecies belongs to a diverse group of native bees that play important roles as pollinators.
Perdita gerhardi
Bee Balm Fairy Bee
Perdita gerhardi is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Viereck in 1904. It is native to North America and is commonly known as the Bee Balm Fairy Bee. The species is part of the large genus Perdita, which contains some of the smallest bees in North America. Three subspecies are recognized: P. g. dallasiana, P. g. gerhardi, and P. g. monardae.
Perdita halictoides
Ground-cherry Fairy Bee, Ground-cherry Perdita, Sweatbee-like Miner Bee
Perdita halictoides is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the ground-cherry fairy bee or sweatbee-like miner bee. The species is found in North America and belongs to a genus of over 800 species of small, often brightly colored bees. Members of the genus Perdita are solitary, ground-nesting bees that typically specialize on particular host plants for pollen collection.
Perdita heliotropii
Heliotrope Fairy Bee
Perdita heliotropii is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1900. The common name "Heliotrope Fairy Bee" reflects its association with heliotrope plants. As a member of the genus Perdita, it belongs to a diverse group of small, solitary bees native to North America. The species epithet "heliotropii" indicates a likely host-plant specialization on Heliotropium species.
Perdita hippolyta
Perdita hippolyta is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Portman and Griswold in 2016. Like other members of the genus Perdita, it is a solitary bee. The genus Perdita is known for containing some of the smallest bees in North America, with many species exhibiting extreme host-plant specialization. As a recently described species, detailed natural history information remains limited.
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 interrupta
California Poppy Fairy Bee
Perdita interrupta is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the California Poppy Fairy Bee. It is a solitary, ground-nesting bee native to North America. The species is part of the large genus Perdita, which contains over 800 species of small mining bees in North America. Like other Perdita species, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations require further documentation.
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 koebelei
Perdita koebelei is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by P.H. Timberlake in 1964. It is a small, solitary bee native to North America. Like other members of the genus Perdita, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations have not been documented for this species. The species is named in honor of the entomologist H. Koebele.
Perdita koebelei concinna
Perdita koebelei concinna is a subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1964. As a member of the genus Perdita, it is a small, solitary, ground-nesting bee native to North America. The subspecies designation indicates geographic or morphological variation within P. koebelei, though specific distinguishing characteristics have not been widely documented in available literature.
Perdita koebelei koebelei
Perdita koebelei koebelei is a subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1964. Like other members of the genus Perdita, this subspecies belongs to a diverse group of small, solitary, ground-nesting bees native to North America. The genus Perdita contains approximately 800 species, many of which are specialist pollinators with narrow host-plant associations.
Perdita larreae
Perdita larreae is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1896. It belongs to the genus Perdita, which comprises small, often brightly colored solitary bees commonly known as fairy bees or yellow-faced bees. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. As with other members of the genus, it is presumed to be a solitary ground-nesting bee, though specific biological 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.
Perdita minima
Euphorb Mini-Fairy Bee
Perdita minima is the smallest known bee species, measuring under 2 mm in length and weighing approximately 0.33 mg. This solitary mining bee belongs to the family Andrenidae and is native to the southwestern United States, where it inhabits desert environments. It constructs small nests in sandy soils and has been observed feeding on and pollinating spurges (Euphorbia species).
Perdita nasuta
Perdita nasuta is a species of mining bee in the genus Perdita, family Andrenidae. It was first described by entomologist P.H. Timberlake in 1962. As a member of the large Perdita genus—one of the most diverse bee genera in North America with over 800 species—it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee. Like other Perdita species, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations for this species have not been documented.
Perdita octomaculata
eight-spotted miner bee, eight-spotted perdita, eight-spotted fairy bee
Perdita octomaculata is a small solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae. The species was originally described as Panurgus octomaculatus by Thomas Say in 1824. It is one of approximately 700 species in the genus Perdita, which represents one of the most diverse bee genera in North America. The specific epithet 'octomaculata' refers to eight spots, likely describing a distinctive marking pattern on the body.
Perdita pelargoides
Perdita pelargoides is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cockerell in 1916. It is native to North America. As a member of the genus Perdita, it is likely a small, solitary bee, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented in available sources.