Oligolectic
Guides
Ancylandrena larreae
Creosote Bush Ancylandrena
Ancylandrena larreae, commonly known as the creosote bush ancylandrena, is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae. It was first described by Timberlake in 1951 as Megandrena larreae. The species is named for its association with creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), suggesting a specialized host relationship. It occurs in arid regions of North America and Central America.
Andrena
Mining Bees, Mining Bee
Andrena is the largest genus in the family Andrenidae, containing over 1,500 species of solitary ground-nesting bees. These bees are commonly called mining bees due to their habit of excavating burrows in soil to construct nests. The genus is nearly worldwide in distribution, absent only from Oceania and South America, and is most diverse in temperate regions with Mediterranean climates. Andrena species are important pollinators, with many exhibiting specialized relationships with particular host plants.
Andrena astragali
Death Camas Mining Bee, Death Camas Bee, Death Camas Andrena
Andrena astragali is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, native to North America. It is remarkable for its specialized association with highly toxic plants in the genus Toxicoscordion (death camas), whose alkaloid zygacine is lethal to most other bees. The species was first described in 1914 from a specimen collected on Astragalus in Nebraska, though its primary host plants were later discovered to be Toxicoscordion species. It is considered the only bee species known to tolerate death camas toxins, making it a unique example of pollinator-plant coevolution involving chemical defense.
Andrena brevipalpis
Short-palped Miner, short-tongued miner bee
Andrena brevipalpis is a solitary mining bee species in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1930. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Vermont and broader North American distribution. The species is an oligolectic specialist, collecting pollen exclusively from Rhus (sumac) flowers. Like other Andrena species, it nests in the ground and is active during spring.
Andrena clarkella
Clark's Mining Bee, Clark's Andrena, Clarke's Mining Bee
Andrena clarkella is a solitary mining bee (family Andrenidae) found in Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. It is one of the earliest spring-flying bees, active from March to May. The species is oligolectic, specializing on willow (Salix) pollen. Females nest in bare or sparsely vegetated sandy soils, often in forest clearings and edges.
Andrena cornelli
Azalea Mining Bee, azalea miner
Andrena cornelli is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the Azalea Mining Bee. It is the only known bee species that is oligolectic on azalea (Rhododendron spp.), meaning it exclusively collects pollen from this plant genus. The species possesses widely spaced scopa hairs on its hind legs, an adaptation that allows it to carry the distinctive sticky pollen of azaleas. It is found in North America and is of ecological interest due to its highly specialized pollination relationship.
Andrena erythronii
Trout-lily Mining Bee, Trout Lily Bee, Trout-lily Andrena
Andrena erythronii is a solitary mining bee native to eastern North America. It is strongly associated with trout lilies (Erythronium), earning its common name. Females measure 11–14 mm, males 9–11 mm. The species has been documented visiting additional spring ephemeral wildflowers and early-flowering trees and shrubs.
Andrena geranii
Geranium Miner Bee, Geranium Andrena
Andrena geranii is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, native to North America. It is commonly known as the Geranium Miner Bee or Geranium Andrena, names reflecting its documented association with geranium plants (Pelargonium and Geranium species). Like other members of the genus Andrena, it is a ground-nesting bee that excavates tunnels in soil to provision with pollen and nectar for its larvae. The species is part of the diverse Andrena fauna of eastern North America, though detailed ecological studies specific to this species remain limited.
Andrena krigiana
Dwarf-dandelion Mining Bee, dwarf-dandelion andrena
Andrena krigiana is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the Dwarf-dandelion Mining Bee. It is a ground-nesting species found in North America. As a member of the large genus Andrena, it exhibits the typical traits of mining bees: females excavate burrows in soil to provision with pollen and nectar for their larvae. The specific epithet and common name suggest an association with dwarf-dandelion (Krigia species), likely indicating a pollen specialization.
Andrena rehni
Rehn's Miner Bee
Andrena rehni is a solitary, ground-nesting miner bee native to eastern North America. The species is oligolectic, specializing on pollen from Castanea species including American chestnut and Allegheny chinkapin. Following the functional extinction of American chestnut due to chestnut blight, the bee became increasingly rare and was not documented for nearly a century until its rediscovery in 2018. It has since been recorded in multiple states after long absences.
Andrena wilkella
Wilke's Mining Bee, Wilke's Mining-bee
Andrena wilkella is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae. Native to Europe, it has been introduced to North America, possibly via ship ballast. It is active from April to August and nests both singly and in aggregations. The species shows strong pollen specialization on Fabaceae, particularly clover and sweet clover.
Andrenidae
mining bees, miner bees, bulldozer bees
Andrenidae is a large, nearly cosmopolitan family of solitary, ground-nesting bees commonly known as mining bees. The family exhibits exceptional diversity with over 2,000 described species across four subfamilies: Andreninae, Panurginae, Oxaeinae, and Alocandreninae. Most diversity occurs in temperate and arid (warm temperate xeric) regions. The genus Andrena contains approximately 1,700 species, making it one of the most rapidly speciating bee lineages known. Members are typically small to moderate-sized bees with distinctive morphological features including two subantennal sutures on the face—a primitive trait shared with sphecoid wasps—and often possess foveae (depressions) near the upper margin of the eyes. Unlike most bee families, Andrenidae have no known kleptoparasites. Some lineages, particularly within Panurginae, have evolved crepuscular (dusk-active) foraging behavior with enlarged ocelli.
Anthemurgus passiflorae
passion flower bee
A small solitary bee in the family Andrenidae, Anthemurgus passiflorae is a monolectic specialist that forages exclusively on yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea). It is one of the few andrenid bees with a published chromosome-level genome assembly, making it valuable for studying the genomic basis of host-plant specialization and pollinator conservation.
Cemolobus ipomoeae
Cemolobus ipomoeae is a rarely encountered specialist bee in the family Apidae, tribe Eucerini. It is known for its obligate association with morning glory plants (Ipomoea), particularly Ipomoea pandurata. The species was first recorded in Mississippi in 2017, representing a significant southwestern range expansion from its previously documented distribution. As a pollen and nectar specialist, this bee plays a specific role in the pollination of its host plants.
Chelostoma
Scissor Bees
Chelostoma is a genus of solitary bees in the tribe Osmiini (family Megachilidae), comprising approximately 56-60 described species across five subgenera. These bees are predominantly Palaearctic in distribution and are notable for their high degree of pollen specialization: most species are strict oligoleges, collecting pollen from flowers of a single plant genus, subfamily, or family. Common host plant associations include Campanula (bellflowers), Ornithogalum, Ranunculus, Asteraceae, and Brassicaceae. Nesting occurs in preexisting cavities in dead wood or hollow plant stems, with females constructing brood cell partitions and nest plugs using mud often reinforced with pebbles and sand grains.
Chelostoma campanularum
Small Scissor Bee, Harebell Carpenter Bee
Chelostoma campanularum is a small solitary bee in the family Megachilidae. It is a pollen specialist strongly associated with Campanula (bellflower) species. The species is notable for its distinctive pollen-collecting behavior using abdominal scopae rather than leg scopae, and for nesting in hollow plant stems.
Chelostoma rapunculi
Rampion Scissor Bee
Chelostoma rapunculi is a solitary bee in the subgenus Gyrodromella (family Megachilidae), commonly known as the Rampion Scissor Bee. It is an oligolectic species specialized on Campanula host plants, though females occasionally visit non-host plants including Geranium sanguineum and Malva moschata. Nesting occurs in preexisting linear cavities in dead wood or hollow stems, with cells partitioned using mud and pebbles. The species is native to the Palaearctic region and has been introduced to North America.
Colletes
plasterer bees, cellophane bees, polyester bees
Colletes is a large genus of solitary ground-nesting bees in the family Colletidae, comprising approximately 470 described species with an estimated total around 700. Adults are small, typically 1–2 cm long, with dense pale hair and distinctive wing venation. Females construct individual underground burrows lined with a unique polyester secretion from the Dufour's gland, creating a cellophane-like waterproof coating that gives these bees their common names. They are among the earliest native bees to emerge in spring and are important pollinators, with many species showing specialized pollen-foraging preferences.
Colletes solidaginis
Goldenrod Cellophane Bee
Colletes solidaginis, known as the goldenrod cellophane bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae. Like other members of its genus, it constructs subterranean burrows lined with a waterproof, cellophane-like secretion from abdominal glands. The species is found in North America and is associated with goldenrod (Solidago) flowers, as suggested by its specific epithet.
Dasypodainae
Dasypodainae is a subfamily of melittid bees comprising more than 100 species across eight genera. These bees are found in Africa and the northern temperate zone, with a notable disjunct distribution in the genus Hesperapis, which occurs in both North America and southern Africa. They are primarily associated with xeric habitats and exhibit specialized pollen-foraging behaviors.
Diadasia
cactus bees, bindweed turret bees
Diadasia is a genus of solitary bees in the family Apidae, tribe Emphorini, containing approximately 42 species. These bees are oligolectic pollen specialists that primarily forage on plants in the family Malvaceae, though some species have evolved associations with other plant groups including cacti, bindweeds, and willowherbs. They are ground-nesting bees, with many species constructing distinctive turrets or chimney-like structures at their nest entrances. Male Diadasia form large mating aggregations where they compete intensely for access to emerging females.
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 diminuta
globe mallow bee, globemallow chimney bee
Diadasia diminuta, commonly known as the globe mallow bee or globemallow chimney bee, is a solitary bee species in the family Apidae, tribe Emphorini. It is native to North and Central America and is primarily associated with flowers in the genus Sphaeralcea (globe mallows). The species has been documented exhibiting host-switching behavior, utilizing alternative mallow species such as Iliamna latibracteata when its preferred host plants are unavailable. Like other chimney bees, females construct distinctive turret-like nest entrances.
Diadasia rinconis
Cactus Bee
Diadasia rinconis is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the cactus bee. In the Sonoran Desert, it feeds almost exclusively on native cactus species, with its life cycle closely tied to cactus flowering phenology. Males form large mating aggregations where hundreds or thousands patrol nesting areas and compete in "mating balls" for access to emerging females. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with females possessing specialized pollen-collecting structures and males showing elongated hind legs.
Dieunomia triangulifera
Dieunomia triangulifera is a solitary sweat bee (Halictidae) specialized on sunflower pollen. It occurs in the central United States, where it forms large nesting aggregations of up to 150,000 nests. The species exhibits tight phenological synchrony with its host plant Helianthus annuus, emerging and provisioning nests to coincide with peak pollen availability. Males engage in attempted forced matings at emergence, while actual courtship occurs later.
Dufourea monardae
Beebalm Shortface Bee, monarda dufourea
A small sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Beebalm Shortface Bee. Females measure approximately 7 mm, males 6–7 mm. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in head shape, with females having a strongly protuberant face and males possessing a longer head. It is an oligolectic specialist, collecting pollen exclusively from bee balm plants (Monarda spp.). Active primarily during July and August across its North American range.
Dufourea mulleri
Phacelia Shortface
Dufourea mulleri is a small sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Phacelia Shortface. It is a specialist pollinator with a documented association with plants in the genus Phacelia. The species occurs in North America and is one of the more frequently observed members of its genus.
Dufourea novaeangliae
Pickerelweed Shortface
Dufourea novaeangliae is a solitary bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Pickerelweed Shortface. It is an oligolectic (specialist) pollinator exclusively associated with pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), a semi-aquatic plant. The species occurs in north-eastern and north-central North America, with confirmed records from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, and Vermont. It is phylogenetically distant from honey bees and possesses the smallest odorant receptor repertoire (112 ORs) among fully sequenced bee genomes.
Dufourea oenotherae
Dufourea oenotherae is a species of short-faced bee in the family Halictidae, described by Timberlake in 1939. The specific epithet 'oenotherae' indicates an association with evening primrose (Oenothera), suggesting a specialized host relationship. Members of the genus Dufourea are typically oligolectic, collecting pollen from a narrow range of host plants. The species is known from North America.
Dufourea pulchricornis
Dufourea pulchricornis is a species of short-faced bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1916. It belongs to a genus of solitary bees that are typically associated with specific host plants. The species epithet "pulchricornis" refers to the beautiful or handsome antennae. Like other members of the genus Dufourea, this species is likely oligolectic, specializing on pollen from a narrow range of host plants.
Emphorini
Chimney Bees
Emphorini is a tribe of solitary, ground-nesting bees within the family Apidae. Members are characterized by narrow pollen preferences, with many species exhibiting oligolecty (specialized pollen collection from a restricted range of plant taxa). Nesting behavior varies: some species carry water to soften hard soil during excavation, while others do not. The tribe includes approximately nine genera distributed primarily in the New World, with an amphitropical distribution pattern in some genera.
Habropoda laboriosa
Southeastern Blueberry Bee, Blueberry Digger Bee
Habropoda laboriosa is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Apidae, native to the eastern United States. It is an oligolectic specialist pollinator of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), for which it is the most efficient known pollinator due to its buzz pollination behavior. The species is active for only 3-5 weeks annually, synchronized with early spring blueberry bloom. It nests in aggregations in sandy soils and has been estimated to provide $20 per individual in blueberry pollination services.
Hesperapini
Hesperapini is a small tribe of bees within the family Melittidae, subfamily Dasypodainae. The tribe contains a limited number of genera and species, primarily distributed in arid regions. These bees are ground-nesting and exhibit specialized pollen-collecting structures. They represent an early-diverging lineage among bees, contributing to understanding of bee evolution.
Hesperapis regularis
Clarkia Evening Bee
Hesperapis regularis is an oligolectic bee endemic to California, specialized in collecting pollen exclusively from flowers of the genus Clarkia. Unlike most bees, it is active in the evening hours. Females construct underground nests where they provision chambers with a mixture of Clarkia pollen and nectar for larval development.
Hesperapis rufipes
Woollystar Evening Bee, Hugelia Evening Bee
Hesperapis rufipes is a species of hairy-footed bee in the family Melittidae, one of the most primitive families of bees. The species is found in North America and is known by the common names Woollystar Evening Bee and Hugelia Evening Bee. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits morphological adaptations associated with its common name, including dense hair on the legs. The species is part of a small genus of specialist bees with restricted distributions and specific host-plant associations.
Hoplitis
Small Mason Bees
Hoplitis is a large genus of solitary bees in the family Megachilidae, tribe Osmiini, comprising over 380 described species distributed primarily across the Palaearctic region. These bees are commonly known as small mason bees and exhibit diverse nesting strategies including burrows in soil, pre-existing cavities in wood or stone, and insect borings in dead wood. Many species are pollen specialists (oligolectic), with documented associations to specific plant genera including Allium, Reseda, Astragalus, Onosma, and others. The genus demonstrates remarkable biogeographic patterns, including disjunct distributions spanning thousands of kilometers between European and Central Asian populations.
Macropis nuda
Dark-footed Yellow Loosestrife Bee
Macropis nuda is a small, ground-nesting solitary bee in the family Melittidae, native to northern North America. It is a highly specialized oligolectic species that forages exclusively for floral oils and pollen from Lysimachia ciliata (Primulaceae). The bee exhibits unique adaptations for oil collection, including dense white scopae on the posterior tibiae that use capillary action to hold oils. It is univoltine, with offspring hibernating as pupae in cocoons until the following spring.
Masarinae
Pollen Wasps
Masarinae, commonly known as pollen wasps, is a subfamily of solitary wasps within Vespidae. Unlike their social and predatory relatives, pollen wasps provision their nests exclusively with pollen and nectar, resembling bees in their foraging behavior. The subfamily is small but globally distributed, with notable diversity in western North America, southern Africa, southern Europe, central Asia, and Australia. In North America, only the genus Pseudomasaris occurs, with 14 species. Many species exhibit strong flower associations, often oligolectic, specializing on particular plant genera such as Penstemon, Phacelia, and Eriodyction.
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.
Melissodes desponsus
Eastern Thistle Longhorn Bee
Melissodes desponsus is a solitary, ground-nesting longhorn bee native to northeastern North America. Females are oligolectic specialists on Cirsium thistles, collecting white pollen that often obscures their distinctive orange scopae. The species is active in mid-to-late summer and has been assessed as vulnerable or imperiled in several regional conservation evaluations, though it lacks a comprehensive rangewide status assessment.
Melitta eickworti
Deerberry Blunt-Horn, deerberry melitta
Melitta eickworti is a species of melittid bee in the family Melittidae, commonly known as the Deerberry Blunt-Horn or deerberry melitta. It was described by Snelling & Stage in 1995. The species is found in North America and belongs to a specialized group of bees that are oligolectic, meaning they collect pollen from a narrow range of host plants. Based on its placement in the genus Melitta, it is likely associated with specific floral resources, though detailed ecological studies remain limited.
Micralictoides
Micralictoides is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, comprising eight described species. The genus was established by Timberlake in 1939 and is classified within the subfamily Rophitinae. Species in this genus are native to western North America, particularly arid regions of California and the Mojave Desert. They are small to medium-sized bees associated with specific host plants.
Osmia calaminthae
blue calamintha bee
Osmia calaminthae is a rare mason bee endemic to a restricted area of Florida scrub habitat. The species was described in 2011 and is known from only eleven sites concentrated in the southern Lake Wales Ridge and Ocala National Forest. It exhibits striking blue coloration and shows extreme host specialization, depending primarily on two mint-family plants for pollen. The species is considered Critically Imperiled due to its extremely limited range, specific habitat requirements, and ongoing threats from development and pesticide exposure. It was rediscovered in March 2020 after concerns about its continued existence.
Panurginae
Panurginae is a subfamily of solitary bees within family Andrenidae, comprising 33 genera in 7 tribes. The group is particularly diverse in the New World, with greatest representation in arid and temperate regions, and occurs in the Palearctic and Africa in the Old World. Members are strongly associated with xeric and sandy habitats. Most species are oligolectic, exhibiting specialized pollen-foraging relationships with particular host plants.
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.
Pseudomasaris
pollen wasps
Pseudomasaris is a genus of solitary pollen wasps in the family Vespidae, comprising 15 species found exclusively in arid regions of western North America. Unlike most wasps, which provision their nests with paralyzed prey, Pseudomasaris females collect pollen and nectar to feed their larvae—a behavior convergent with bees. The genus is the sole representative of the subfamily Masarinae in North America. Adults are typically black with yellow or white markings; some species exhibit coloration resembling yellowjackets (Vespula), though they lack the longitudinal fold characteristic of social vespids when at rest.
Pseudomasaris macswaini
pollen wasp
Pseudomasaris macswaini is a species of pollen wasp in the family Vespidae, subfamily Masarinae. It is one of 14 species in the genus Pseudomasaris, which is the only genus of pollen wasps occurring in North America. Like other masarine wasps, it is solitary and provisions its nest cells with pollen and nectar rather than paralyzed prey. The species was described by Bohart in 1963 and is known from western North America.
Pseudomasaris maculifrons
pollen wasp
Pseudomasaris maculifrons is a solitary pollen wasp in the family Vespidae, subfamily Masarinae. Unlike predatory social wasps, females construct mud nests provisioned with pollen and nectar rather than insect prey. Males exhibit distinctive hilltopping behavior, perching repeatedly in the same locations on isolated peaks to await females. The species occurs in western North America and is active primarily in spring.
Pseudomasaris phaceliae
Scorpionweed pollen wasp
Pseudomasaris phaceliae is a solitary pollen wasp in the subfamily Masarinae, known as the scorpionweed pollen wasp. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits oligolectic behavior, collecting pollen and nectar from a narrow range of flowering plants to provision its mud nest cells. The species is native to western North America and is one of approximately 14 species in the genus Pseudomasaris, the only masarine genus occurring in North America. Males are distinguished by their elongated, clubbed antennae and engage in hilltopping behavior to locate females.
Pseudomasaris zonalis
Pseudomasaris zonalis is a species of pollen wasp in the family Vespidae, subfamily Masarinae. Like other members of the genus Pseudomasaris, it is a solitary wasp that provisions its nests with pollen and nectar rather than paralyzed prey. The species was described by Cresson in 1864. Pollen wasps in this genus are known for their specialized oligolectic relationships with certain flowering plants, particularly in the genera Penstemon, Phacelia, and Eriodictyon.
Ptilothrix
chimney bees, mallow bees
Ptilothrix is a genus of solitary, ground-nesting bees in the family Apidae, tribe Emphorini, with an amphitropical distribution in the New World. These bees range from 7 to 15 mm in body length and are distinguished by prominent, coarse scopae on their hind legs adapted for collecting large-grained pollen. Females excavate nests in hard-packed soil using water carried from ponds to moisten the substrate, constructing distinctive turreted or chimney-like nest entrances. The genus exhibits narrow pollen specialization (oligolecty), with species specializing on particular plant families including Malvaceae, Convolvulaceae, Onagraceae, Cactaceae, Pontederiaceae, and Asteraceae.
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.
Ptilothrix chiricahua
Ptilothrix chiricahua is a solitary ground-nesting bee described in 2023 from specimens collected in the Chihuahuan Desert. It is a specialist pollinator of Kallstroemia grandiflora, with flight activity synchronized to this host's late summer bloom. The species exhibits the distinctive water-walking behavior characteristic of its genus, using surface tension to retrieve water for nest excavation. It was previously misidentified as Ptilothrix sumichrasti until taxonomic revision split that species into three distinct taxa.
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.
Xenoglossa
Squash Bees and Allies, Squash Bees
Xenoglossa is a genus of large bees in the family Apidae, commonly known as squash bees. Species in this genus are oligolectic pollen specialists, with most species foraging exclusively on Cucurbita crops (Cucurbitaceae). Some species, such as X. (Cemolobus) ipomoeae, specialize on Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) instead. These solitary, ground-nesting bees are native to North America and are important agricultural pollinators. Adults are active for a brief period in summer, coinciding with host plant bloom.
Xenoglossa angustior
Red-tailed Squash Bee
Xenoglossa angustior, the Red-tailed Squash Bee, is a specialist pollinator of cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae) in the tribe Eucerini. It is native to North and Middle America and shares the common name "squash bee" with the related genus Peponapis. Both genera are oligoleges that pollinate exclusively squash, pumpkins, gourds, cucumbers, and zucchini.
Xenoglossa kansensis
Kansas squash bee
Xenoglossa kansensis, commonly known as the Kansas squash bee, is a solitary long-horned bee in the family Apidae. It belongs to a genus of specialist pollinators that are oligoleges on cucurbits (the squash family, Cucurbitaceae). The species is native to North America and is one of two related genera (Xenoglossa and Peponapis) commonly referred to as squash bees. Like other squash bees, it is an early-morning pollinator of cucurbit crops.
Xenoglossa strenua
Nimble Squash Bee
Xenoglossa strenua is a species of long-horned bee in the family Apidae, native to North and Central America. It is an oligolectic pollinator specialized on the cucurbit family (Cucurbitaceae), including pumpkins, squash, gourds, cucumbers, and zucchini. The species is active early in the morning, visiting flowers as soon as they open, before most other bee species begin foraging.
Xenoglossodes
Xenoglossodes is a subgenus of long-horned bees in the genus Xenoglossa (family Apidae). Established by Ashmead in 1899, it is currently recognized as a subgenus rather than a full genus. The taxonomic status has been historically unstable, with Xenoglossodes excurrens (Cockerell, 1903) now treated as a synonym of Melissodes subagilis. Members are specialist bees associated with cucurbit flowers.