Native-bee
Guides
Melissodes rivalis
rival long-horned bee, Western Thistle Longhorn Bee
Melissodes rivalis is a solitary long-horned bee in the family Apidae, native to northern North America. Males are distinguished by antennae that may exceed their body length. Females construct individual underground nests and provision them with pollen, while males form sleeping aggregations on flower heads. The species has been documented pollinating thistles (Cirsium sp.).
Melissodes robustior
robust long-horned bee
Melissodes robustior, commonly known as the robust long-horned bee, is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae. It is native to the West Coast of North America. Male individuals have been observed exhibiting the characteristic sleeping behavior of the genus Melissodes, clustering on flowers or stems at night while females nest underground.
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 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.
Melitoma grisella
Great Plains Turret Bee
Melitoma grisella is a species of solitary bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the Great Plains Turret Bee. It belongs to the tribe Emphorini, a group of bees known for constructing distinctive turret-like nest entrances. The species was described by Cockerell and Porter in 1899 and is native to North America.
Melitoma taurea
mallow bee, Morning Glory Turret Bee
Melitoma taurea, commonly known as the mallow bee or Morning Glory Turret Bee, is a solitary bee species in the family Apidae. It belongs to the chimney bee group, known for constructing distinctive turret-like nest entrances. The species is notable for possessing an exceptionally long proboscis that extends to the abdomen even when folded. It occurs across North America and has been documented in parts of Central and South America.
Neopasites fulviventris
Neopasites fulviventris is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cresson in 1878. It belongs to the tribe Biastini within the subfamily Nomadinae, a group of bees known for their kleptoparasitic lifestyle. The species is native to North America. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a cleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of other bee species, though specific host relationships for this species remain poorly documented.
Nomada besseyi
Bessey's Nomad Bee
Nomada besseyi is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Swenk in 1913. Like other members of the genus Nomada, it is a kleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of host bee species, particularly mining bees in the genus Andrena. The species is native to North America and exhibits the characteristic wasp-like appearance typical of nomad bees, lacking the branched body hairs used for pollen collection by non-parasitic bees.
Nomada cressonii
Cresson's Nomad Bee
Nomada cressonii is a kleptoparasitic cuckoo bee species in the family Apidae, native to North America. As a member of the genus Nomada, it exhibits the characteristic behavior of laying eggs in the nests of host bee species rather than constructing its own nest or collecting pollen. The species is named after entomologist Ezra Townsend Cresson. Like other nomad bees, females likely locate host nests using chemical cues and possess reduced body hair compared to pollen-collecting bees.
Nomada suavis
Suave Nomad Bee
Nomada suavis is a species of nomad bee in the family Apidae, found in North America. As a member of the genus Nomada, it is a kleptoparasitic cuckoo bee that does not construct its own nest or collect pollen. The species was described by Cresson in 1878. Like other nomad bees, it likely lays its eggs in the nests of host bee species, though specific host relationships for N. suavis have not been documented.
Nomada texana
Texas Nomad Bee
Nomada texana, commonly known as the Texas Nomad Bee, is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. It is native to the southern and western United States and Mexico. As a kleptoparasite, it does not build its own nest or collect pollen, instead laying eggs in the nests of host bee species. Males measure 7.5–8.0 mm and females 8–9 mm. The species exhibits the black and yellow coloration typical of the genus, with reddish legs.
Osmia
Mason Bees
Osmia is a large genus of solitary bees in the family Megachilidae, commonly known as mason bees. The genus includes approximately 500 species worldwide, with many species native to North America. Mason bees are named for their use of mud or other masonry materials to construct and seal nest cells. They are important pollinators of agricultural crops and native plants, and several species are managed commercially for orchard pollination. Unlike honey bees, mason bees are solitary, do not produce honey, and rarely sting.
Osmia aglaia
Oregon berry bee
Osmia aglaia is a solitary mason bee native to the western United States. It is commonly known as the Oregon berry bee due to its specialized role as a pollinator of brambles, particularly raspberries and blackberries. The species exhibits metallic coloration and nests in pre-existing wood tunnels. Adults are active in late spring, coinciding with Rubus bloom periods.
Osmia bucephala
bufflehead mason bee
Osmia bucephala, commonly known as the bufflehead mason bee, is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae native to North America. As a mason bee, it nests in pre-existing tubular cavities and uses mud to construct and seal brood cells. The species is part of the diverse Osmia genus, which includes many ecologically important pollinators. Limited specific ecological data is available for this species compared to better-studied congeners such as O. lignaria.
Osmia coloradensis
Colorado Mason, Colorado osmia
Osmia coloradensis is a solitary mason bee in the family Megachilidae, native to western North America. Like other Osmia species, it nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow plant stems or holes in wood, sealing nest chambers with mud. The species is recognized as a native pollinator with documented observations across multiple western U.S. states and parts of Central America. It belongs to a genus of bees increasingly valued for orchard pollination services, though specific management practices for this species are less developed than for commercially used relatives.
Osmia dakotensis
Osmia dakotensis is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, described by Michener in 1937. It is native to North America. As a mason bee, it likely nests in pre-existing cavities and uses mud to construct brood cells. Beyond its taxonomic placement and geographic distribution, specific biological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Osmia distincta
Beardtongue scraper bee
Osmia distincta is a solitary mason bee in the family Megachilidae, native to North America. It is commonly known as the beardtongue scraper bee, reflecting its association with Penstemon (beardtongue) plants. The species was described by Cresson in 1864 and has been documented in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont. As a member of the genus Osmia, it nests in pre-existing cavities and provisions brood cells with pollen.
Osmia foxi
Osmia foxi is a species of mason bee in the family Megachilidae, subgenus Melanosmia. It was long considered enigmatic, known only from the male holotype until its redescription in 2011, which included the first description of the female. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where it occurs in montane pine-oak forest habitats. It exhibits the metallic coloration typical of many Osmia species.
Osmia georgica
Georgia Mason Bee
Osmia georgica is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, commonly known as the Georgia Mason Bee. It is found across North America and Central America. As a member of the genus Osmia, it is a mason bee that constructs nests using mud or other materials. The species was described by Ezra Townsend Cresson in 1878.
Osmia glauca
Osmia glauca is a species of mason bee in the family Megachilidae, originally described as Heriades glaucum by Fowler in 1899. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus of solitary bees known for nesting in pre-existing cavities and sealing brood cells with mud. Like other Osmia species, it is likely a pollinator of flowering plants, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Osmia lignaria
blue orchard bee, orchard mason bee, BOB
A solitary megachilid bee native to North America, widely managed for pollination of early spring fruit crops including almonds, apples, and cherries. Distinguished by metallic blue coloration, smaller size than honey bees, and unique mud-nesting behavior. Divided into two subspecies by the Rocky Mountains: O. l. propinqua (west) and O. l. lignaria (east).
Osmia montana quadriceps
Osmia montana quadriceps is a subspecies of mason bee in the family Megachilidae, described by Cresson in 1878. As a member of the genus Osmia, it is a solitary bee that nests in pre-existing cavities and uses mud to construct brood cells. The subspecies is part of the North American fauna of native mason bees. Mason bees in this genus are valued as pollinators of orchard crops and wild plants, with females carrying pollen on specialized abdominal scopae rather than on leg baskets.
Osmia pumila
Osmia pumila is a solitary mason bee native to eastern North America. It is strongly associated with forest habitats, where it performs spring pollination of wildflowers and possibly some timber trees. The species nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems or holes in wood, sealing brood chambers with mud. Research indicates it is one of the most common forest-associated bee species in the eastern United States, with populations increasing as forest cover has regrown since the early 1900s.
Osmia rawlinsi
Osmia rawlinsi is a species of solitary mason bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Sandhouse in 1939 and is native to North America. Like other members of the genus Osmia, it is a cavity-nesting bee that uses mud to construct and seal its nest cells. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited information available regarding its ecology, distribution, and conservation status.
Osmia ribifloris ribifloris
blueberry mason bee
Osmia ribifloris ribifloris is a subspecies of mason bee native to western North America, endemic to regions west of the Mississippi River including Texas, California, and Oregon. It has been developed as a commercially managed pollinator for blueberry crops, particularly rabbiteye and southern highbush blueberries, with 14 years of rearing data documented from the Deep South. The subspecies produces cocoons that can be stored and released for field-scale pollination services.
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.
Osmia texana
Texas Mason Bee, Texas osmia
Osmia texana, commonly known as the Texas mason bee, is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae. It is native to Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Osmia, it is a cavity-nesting bee that uses mud to construct and seal its nest cells. Like other mason bees, it is a pollinator of flowering plants, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in available literature.
Peponapis
Squash bees
Peponapis is a genus of ground-nesting bees in the family Apidae, commonly known as squash bees. These solitary bees are specialized pollinators of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, including squash, pumpkins, gourds, and cucumbers. The genus underwent rapid geographical expansion following the domestication and spread of cucurbit crops by humans. Peponapis pruinosa, the most studied species, has been used as a model organism for understanding the impacts of agricultural practices on ground-nesting bees and for assessing pesticide risk in agricultural soils.
Peponapis pruinosa
eastern cucurbit bee, squash bee, hoary squash bee
Peponapis pruinosa is a solitary ground-nesting bee specialized on cucurbits (squash, pumpkins, and gourds). It is an oligolege, collecting pollen exclusively from Cucurbita species. The species expanded its range dramatically following human cultivation of squash throughout North America. It is an effective pollinator of cultivated cucurbits and often completes its entire life cycle within agricultural fields.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 punctosignata
Perdita punctosignata is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cockerell in 1895. It is one of approximately 800 described species in the genus Perdita, which comprises small, solitary bees native to North America. The species is known to occur in both Central America and North America, with three recognized subspecies distinguished primarily by coloration. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations remain undocumented.
Perdita rhois
Rhus Fairy Bee
Perdita rhois is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1901. It is commonly known as the Rhus Fairy Bee, a name referencing its association with Rhus (sumac) plants. The species occurs in Central America and North America, where it functions as a pollinator. As a member of the genus Perdita, it belongs to one of the most diverse bee genera in North America, characterized by small size and often specialized host-plant relationships.
Perdita rivalis
Perdita rivalis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1958. As a member of the genus Perdita, it belongs to a diverse group of small, solitary bees commonly known as mining bees or fairy bees. The species is recorded from North America. Like other Perdita species, it likely exhibits the typical traits of the genus: small size, solitary nesting behavior in soil, and specialized floral associations, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Perdita trifasciata
Three-striped Fairy Bee
Perdita trifasciata is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1953. The common name "Three-striped Fairy Bee" refers to its diminutive size and likely abdominal banding pattern. As with other Perdita species, it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee. The species has been recorded in Middle America and North America.
Perdita trisignata
Lotus Fairy Bee
Perdita trisignata is a small, solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cockerell in 1896. The species is known by the common name Lotus Fairy Bee. It belongs to a genus of approximately 800 species of small bees found primarily in North America. Members of the genus Perdita are typically specialist pollinators associated with particular host plants. The specific epithet 'trisignata' likely refers to three distinctive markings on the body.
Pseudopanurgus rugosus
Pseudopanurgus rugosus is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Robertson in 1895. The species is native to North America and Middle America. As a member of the Panurginae subfamily, it is a solitary bee that excavates nests in soil. The specific epithet 'rugosus' refers to a wrinkled or roughened surface texture, likely describing some aspect of the integument.
Ptiloglossa mexicana
Mexican feather-tongue
Ptiloglossa mexicana is a nocturnal bee species in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the Mexican feather-tongue. It is found from Central America north to Texas, USA. As a member of the genus Ptiloglossa, it belongs to a group of bees characterized by their distinctive feathery glossae (tongue structures) adapted for nectar collection. The species is part of the diverse and ecologically important community of native bees that contribute to pollination in its range.
Sphecodes dichrous
Blood Bee
Sphecodes dichrous is a species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as a blood bee. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, females lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees, primarily sweat bees (Halictus and Lasioglossum species). The larvae consume the host's pollen provisions and parasitize the host larvae. The species has been recorded in North America, including Vermont.
Sphecodes heraclei
Cyclops Blood Bee
Sphecodes heraclei is a species of cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Cyclops Blood Bee. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, females lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees, particularly sweat bees in the subfamily Halictinae. The larvae consume the host's food stores and parasitize the host larvae. The species is native to North America and Central America, with records from both regions.
Sphecodes heraclei ignitus
Fiery Cyclops Blood Bee
Sphecodes heraclei ignitus is a subspecies of blood bee within the family Halictidae. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, this bee is a cleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that exploits the nests of other solitary bees. The subspecific epithet 'ignitus' (meaning 'fiery') and its common name suggest distinctive coloration. The species was described by Cockerell in 1922. As a Sphecodes, it exhibits the characteristic parasitic lifestyle of the genus, targeting sweat bees and other ground-nesting halictids.