Osmiini
Guides
Atoposmia
Atoposmia is a genus of bees in the family Megachilidae, tribe Osmiini. The genus was established by Cockerell in 1935 and is part of the diverse megachilid bee fauna. These bees are solitary and nest in pre-existing cavities, with females constructing brood cells using collected materials.
Heriades
Armored Resin bees
Heriades is a genus of solitary bees in the family Megachilidae, comprising more than 130 species worldwide. These small, typically black bees are notable for nesting in pre-existing wood cavities and using plant resin to construct and seal nest cells. The genus spans eight subgenera with distributions across all continents; in North America, roughly 25 species occur, though only three are native east of the Rocky Mountains. Several species, particularly Heriades truncorum, serve as important research models for studying bee sexual communication, urban ecology, and pesticide effects.
Heriades leavitti
Leavitt's Armored-Resin bee
Heriades leavitti is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, subgenus Neotrypetes, described by Crawford in 1913. It belongs to a genus of armored-resin bees known for nesting in pre-existing cavities and sealing nest entrances with plant resin. The species is distributed in the Neotropical region and North America, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
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.
Hoplitis albifrons argentifrons
Silver-fronted Small-Mason
Hoplitis albifrons argentifrons is a subspecies of mason bee in the family Megachilidae, native to North America. As a member of the osmiine bees, it is a solitary species that constructs nests in pre-existing cavities. The subspecies designation indicates geographic variation within the broader H. albifrons species complex. Like other Hoplitis species, it contributes to pollination services in its native range.
Hoplitis bunocephala
Hoplitis bunocephala is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, described by Michener in 1947. The species is native to North America and belongs to the diverse genus Hoplitis, which includes numerous mason bee species. Like other members of Megachilidae, females carry pollen on scopae located on the underside of the abdomen rather than on the hind legs.
Hoplitis fulgida fulgida
Hoplitis fulgida fulgida is a subspecies of mason bee in the family Megachilidae, first described by Cresson in 1864. As a member of the genus Hoplitis, it belongs to a group of solitary bees that construct nests using collected materials. The subspecies is part of the North American fauna of Osmia bees, though specific ecological details for this subspecies remain poorly documented in available literature.
Hoplitis howardi
Hoplitis howardi is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, tribe Osmiini. First described by Cockerell in 1910, this species belongs to a large genus of mason bees that nest in pre-existing cavities. The genus Hoplitis is characterized by females that construct nest cells using collected materials such as leaf pieces, mud, or resin. H. howardi occurs in North America and Middle America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Hoplitis hypocrita
Mimic Small-Mason
Hoplitis hypocrita is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, commonly known as the Mimic Small-Mason. It belongs to the tribe Osmiini, which includes many mason bee species that nest in pre-existing cavities. The species was originally described by Cockerell in 1906 as Osmia hypocrita before being transferred to the genus Hoplitis. It is native to North America.
Hoplitis truncata
Truncate Small-Mason
Hoplitis truncata is a solitary bee species in the family Megachilidae, commonly known as the Truncate Small-Mason. It is part of the diverse osmiine bee group, which includes many species that nest in pre-existing cavities and use various materials to construct their nests. The species has been recorded in North America and parts of Southern Asia, though detailed biological information remains limited.
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.
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.