Plasterer-bee
Guides
Colletes aberrans
Aberrant Cellophane Bee
Colletes aberrans is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the Aberrant Cellophane Bee. It is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Colletes, it constructs subterranean burrows lined with a cellophane-like secretion produced by abdominal glands.
Colletes aestivalis
Alumroot Cellophane Bee, Summer Cellophane Bee
Colletes aestivalis is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the Alumroot Cellophane Bee. It is one of approximately 99 Colletes species in North America. Like other members of its genus, females construct individual burrows in sandy soils and line brood cells with a distinctive cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. The specific epithet 'aestivalis' (Latin for 'of summer') reflects its summer flight period, distinguishing it from many congeners that are active in spring or fall.
Colletes birkmanni
polyester bee, plasterer bee, cellophane bee
Colletes birkmanni is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae, one of approximately 99 North American species in the genus Colletes. Like other members of its genus, females construct individual burrows in sandy or thinly vegetated soils and line brood cells with a distinctive cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. This species belongs to a group commonly called 'polyester bees' or 'plasterer bees' due to this unique waterproofing behavior.
Colletes bryanti
Colletes bryanti is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae, commonly known as polyester bees or plasterer bees. Like other members of its genus, it is native to North America. The species was described by Timberlake in 1951. Specific ecological details for this species are not well documented in available sources.
Colletes compactus
polyester bee, plasterer bee, cellophane bee
Colletes compactus is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae, native to North America. Like other members of its genus, it constructs subterranean burrows lined with a distinctive cellophane-like secretion produced by the Dufour's gland, earning the common name "polyester bee" or "plasterer bee." The species nests in aggregations in sandy soils, with females provisioning individual brood cells with a semi-liquid mixture of pollen and nectar. Males emerge before females and actively patrol nesting areas seeking mates.
Colletes compactus compactus
plasterer bee
Colletes compactus compactus is a subspecies of plasterer bee in the family Colletidae. As a member of the genus Colletes, it exhibits the characteristic behaviors of ground-nesting solitary bees that line their burrows with a cellophane-like glandular secretion. The subspecies is recorded from North America, with specific documentation from Vermont. Like other Colletes species, it is an early-spring pollinator that provisions subterranean brood cells with nectar and pollen.
Colletes fulgidus longiplumosus
Long-plumed Cellophane Bee
Colletes fulgidus longiplumosus is a subspecies of plasterer bee in the family Colletidae. Plasterer bees are solitary ground-nesting bees that line their burrows with a cellophane-like secretion from an abdominal gland. As a member of the genus Colletes, this subspecies shares the characteristic vernal activity pattern and ground-nesting biology typical of the group. The subspecific epithet 'longiplumosus' refers to notably long plumose (feathery) hairs, likely a distinguishing feature from the nominate subspecies.
Colletes howardi
Colletes howardi is a species of solitary bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as plasterer bees. It is found in North America. As a member of the genus Colletes, it likely shares the characteristic behavior of lining underground brood chambers with a glandular secretion that dries into a cellophane-like, waterproof coating.
Colletes hyalinus gaudialis
polyester bee, plasterer bee, cellophane bee
Colletes hyalinus gaudialis is a subspecies of polyester bee in the family Colletidae. Like other members of its genus, females construct solitary underground nests lined with a cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. This waterproof coating protects the semi-liquid pollen and nectar provisions for developing larvae. The subspecies is found in North America and shares the general biology of other Colletes species.
Colletes kincaidii
Kincaid's Cellophane Bee, Kincaid's Polyester Bee
Colletes kincaidii, known as Kincaid's cellophane bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae. Like other Colletes species, females construct individual burrows and line brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland, creating waterproof chambers for larval development. The species has been documented as a host for the cleptoparasitic bee Epeolus compactus, which exploits its nests. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from Vermont.
Colletes latitarsis
broad-footed cellophane bee
Colletes latitarsis, known as the broad-footed cellophane bee, is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae. Like other members of its genus, it is a ground-nesting bee that constructs burrows lined with a cellophane-like secretion. The species occurs in North America, with documented presence in the northeastern United States including Vermont. As a member of the Colletes genus, it shares the characteristic forked tongue and cellophane bee biology with related species.
Colletes longifacies
Long-faced Cellophane Bee
Colletes longifacies is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae, endemic to Florida and one of only five Colletidae species restricted to that state. It occurs in North-Central Peninsular Florida and the Florida Panhandle. Like other members of its genus, it is a ground-nesting bee that lines its brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion, earning it the common name 'cellophane bee' or 'plasterer bee'.
Colletes ochraceus
Ochraceous Cellophane Bee, Ochraceous Plasterer Bee
Colletes ochraceus is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the ochraceous cellophane bee or ochraceous plasterer bee. Native to North America, this species exhibits the characteristic cellophane bee behavior of lining underground brood cells with a waterproof, cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. Females construct individual burrows in sandy soils, provisioning them with a semi-liquid mixture of pollen and nectar for their larvae. The species is part of a diverse genus of early spring-emerging bees that serve as important native pollinators.
Colletes phaceliae
phacelia cellophane bee
Colletes phaceliae is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the phacelia cellophane bee. Like other members of the genus Colletes, females construct subterranean burrows and line brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland, creating waterproof chambers for their larvae. The species is found in North America and is named for its association with phacelia flowers.
Colletes punctipennis
Dot-winged Cellophane Bee, Dot-winged Plasterer Bee
A solitary ground-nesting bee in the genus Colletes, known for its distinctive wing markings and cellophane-like nest linings. Like other plasterer bees, females construct individual burrows in sandy soils and coat brood cells with a waterproof secretion from the Dufour's gland. The specific epithet 'punctipennis' refers to punctate (dotted) wing markings that aid in identification.
Colletes simulans armatus
Eastern Spine-shouldered Cellophane Bee
Colletes simulans armatus is a subspecies of polyester bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the Eastern Spine-shouldered Cellophane Bee. Like other members of the genus, females construct solitary underground nests lined with a cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. The subspecies occurs in eastern North America and is active in spring. Males emerge before females and engage in competitive mating behavior at nesting aggregations.
Colletes simulans nevadensis
Colletes simulans nevadensis is a subspecies of polyester bee in the family Colletidae. Like other members of the genus Colletes, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee. The subspecies was described by Swenk in 1908. Information specific to this subspecies is limited in available sources.
Colletes slevini
Slevin's cellophane bee, Slevin's polyester bee
Colletes slevini, commonly known as Slevin's cellophane bee or Slevin's polyester bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae. As a member of the genus Colletes, it shares the characteristic behavior of lining its underground brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion produced from the Dufour's gland. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its range and biology remain limited in published sources. Like other Colletes species, it is a native pollinator that emerges in spring.
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.
Colletes susannae
Susanna's Cellophane Bee
Colletes susannae, known as Susanna's cellophane bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae. Like other members of its genus, females construct burrows in sandy soil and line brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. The species is found in North America and belongs to a group commonly called plasterer bees or polyester bees due to their distinctive nest-lining behavior.
Colletes ultravalidus
Sandhills Cellophane Bee
Colletes ultravalidus is a solitary bee species in the family Colletidae, described in 2016. As a member of the genus Colletes, it shares the characteristic behavior of lining underground brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. The species is known from the Sandhills region of North Carolina.
Zikanapis elegans
Zikanapis elegans is a species of plasterer bee in the family Colletidae, originally described as Caupolicana elegans by Timberlake in 1965. It belongs to a genus of solitary bees found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other colletid bees, it likely nests in the ground and lines its brood cells with a cellophane-like secretion. The species is poorly known, with limited observational records.