Pollinator
Guides
Villa chromolepida
Villa chromolepida is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Cole in 1922. The species is known from the United States. As with other bee flies, adults likely feed on nectar and pollen, though specific behavioral and ecological details remain undocumented. The genus Villa contains numerous species of bee flies, many of which are parasitoids of other insects.
Volucella
hover-flies, flower flies
Volucella is a genus of large, broad-bodied hoverflies in the family Syrphidae. These flies are notable for their Batesian mimicry of stinging Hymenoptera—particularly bumble bees and hornets—which provides protection from predators. Adults are regular flower visitors that feed on nectar, while larvae develop as inquilines in the nests of social bees and wasps, functioning as detritivores and predators of host larvae. The genus exhibits strong migratory behavior and males are often territorial.
Volucella evecta
Eastern Swiftwing
Volucella evecta, commonly known as the eastern swiftwing, is an uncommon hoverfly native to eastern North America. Once considered a subspecies of Volucella bombylans, genetic evidence has established it as a distinct species. This species exhibits Batesian mimicry, closely resembling bumble bees to avoid predation. Adults are known pollinators that visit flowering plants including Geum, Viburnum, and Rubus.
Volucella facialis
Yellow-faced Swiftwing
Volucella facialis is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae, commonly known as the Yellow-faced Swiftwing. It belongs to a genus noted for Batesian mimicry of bumble bees and wasps. Like other Volucella species, it is an inquiline, laying eggs in the nests of social bees and wasps where larvae consume host brood. The species is found in North America, with records from Vermont and other parts of the United States.
Volucellini
Volucellini is a tribe of hoverflies (Syrphidae) within the subfamily Eristalinae. The tribe includes four genera: Copestylum, Graptomyza, Ornidia, and Volucella. Members are known for their robust, often bee-mimicking appearance and association with rotting plant material, particularly cacti, for larval development. The tribe has a broad distribution with notable diversity in the Neotropical and Afrotropical regions.
Wallengrenia egeremet
northern broken dash
A small skipper butterfly (Hesperiidae) native to eastern and central North America. Adults fly in summer, with single or double broods depending on latitude. Larvae feed on Panicum grasses; adults visit flowers for nectar. Taxonomic placement remains uncertain, with some sources placing it in genus Polites or treating it as conspecific with Wallengrenia otho.
Xanthaciura
fruit flies
Xanthaciura is a genus of tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) established by Hendel in 1914. It comprises 17 described species distributed in the Neotropical region, with eight species recorded from Brazil. The genus belongs to the subfamily Tephritinae, a group whose members are typically associated with Asteraceae flowers for oviposition and larval development. Xanthaciura chrysura has been documented visiting flowers of Aristolochia esperanzae (Aristolochiaceae), representing the first record of the genus associated with a plant family other than Asteraceae.
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.
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.
Xenox
Tiger Bee Fly
Xenox is a genus of bee flies in the family Bombyliidae, established by Evenhuis in 1985. The genus contains five described species, all of which are parasitoids whose larvae develop inside the nests of carpenter bees in the genus Xylocopa. The most widely known member is Xenox tigrinus, commonly called the tiger bee fly, which is frequently observed near human structures where carpenter bees nest.
Xenox delila
Xenox delila is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, found in California and Baja California Norte. As with other bee flies, adults are likely pollinators that visit flowers for nectar. The genus Xenox includes parasitic species whose larvae develop in the nests of other insects.
Xenox tigrinus
Tiger Bee Fly
Xenox tigrinus, commonly known as the tiger bee fly, is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae native to eastern North America. Adults are notable for their distinctive wing pattern resembling tiger stripes, their bee-mimicking appearance, and their role as specialized parasitoids of carpenter bee larvae. The species is frequently observed near wooden structures where its host, the eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica), nests.
Xeralictus timberlakei
Timberlake's Blazingstar-Shortface
Xeralictus timberlakei is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1927. It is one of at least two species in the genus Xeralictus, which are rare bees associated with floral mimicry systems in southwestern North America. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented compared to its congener X. bicuspidariae.
Xestoleptura octonotata
Long-winged Longhorn Beetle
Xestoleptura octonotata is a species of flower longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. First described by Thomas Say in 1824, this beetle is native to North America and has been recorded in both the United States and Canada. It belongs to a group of longhorn beetles commonly associated with flowers, where adults frequently feed on pollen and nectar.
Xylocopa
Large Carpenter Bees, Carpenter Bees
Xylocopa is a large genus of bees comprising approximately 500 species in 31 subgenera, commonly known as carpenter bees for their distinctive nesting behavior in wood and bamboo. The genus exhibits remarkable diversity in size, coloration, and social organization, ranging from solitary to incipiently social species. Recent research has revealed that Xylocopa species harbor gut microbiomes remarkably similar to those of eusocial bees like honey bees and bumble bees, challenging assumptions that advanced sociality is required for such microbial communities. Carpenter bees are important pollinators of wild plants and crops, with some species demonstrating greater pollination efficiency than honey bees for certain large-flowered crops such as passion fruit.
Xylocopa appendiculata
Appendiculate Carpenter Bee, Asian Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa appendiculata is a large carpenter bee native to eastern Asia, first reported in the United States in 2013 with established populations in northern California. It belongs to the subgenus Alloxylocopa. The species has been studied using distribution modeling to predict its potential spread across North America. Like other carpenter bees, it nests in wood and serves as a pollinator, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited.
Xylocopa californica arizonensis
Arizona Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa californica arizonensis is a subspecies of carpenter bee in the family Apidae, recognized as the Arizona Carpenter Bee. It belongs to a genus of large, robust bees known for nesting in wood and exhibiting incipient social behavior. Research on related Xylocopa species has revealed surprising microbiome similarities to highly social bees like honey bees and bumble bees, suggesting that advanced sociality is not required for maintaining complex gut bacterial communities.
Xylocopa californica californica
Northern California Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa californica californica is a subspecies of carpenter bee native to western North America. It is one of three recognized carpenter bee species in California and is distinguished by its bluish metallic body reflections. The subspecies is found in mountain foothill regions of northern and southern California. Like other carpenter bees, it nests by tunneling into wood and serves as an important pollinator in native plant communities.
Xylocopa californica diamesa
Southern California Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa californica diamesa is a subspecies of the California carpenter bee (Xylocopa californica), a large solitary bee in the family Apidae. It occurs in southern California and parts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Like other carpenter bees, it nests by excavating tunnels in wood, including dead tree limbs and occasionally wooden structures. Females are capable of stinging but are generally non-aggressive; males lack stingers entirely. The species is an important pollinator in native plant communities and contributes to the pollination of some agricultural crops.
Xylocopa micans
Southern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa micans, the southern carpenter bee, is a large solitary bee in the subgenus Schonnherria. It excavates nests in dead wood but, unlike the sympatric X. virginica, has not been documented nesting in structural timbers. The species exhibits a unique polymorphic mating strategy, shifting from resource defense polygyny in early spring to lek polygyny in mid-summer. It is an important generalist pollinator capable of buzz pollination.
Xylocopa sonorina
Valley Carpenter Bee, Hawaiian Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa sonorina is one of the largest bees in California and Hawaii, reaching approximately 25 mm in length. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism: females are entirely black, while males are golden-brown with distinctive green eyes. Native to the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico, it has been introduced to the Hawaiian Islands (since before 1874), French Polynesia, the Samoan Islands, and other Pacific archipelagoes through human-mediated transport of nesting wood. DNA analysis confirmed in 2020 that X. varipuncta is a synonym of X. sonorina. The species is a significant pollinator, including commercial pollination of passion fruit in Hawaii, though its wood-nesting behavior can cause structural damage.
Xylocopa tabaniformis
horsefly-like carpenter bee, mountain carpenter bee, foothill carpenter bee
Xylocopa tabaniformis, commonly known as the horsefly-like carpenter bee or mountain carpenter bee, is a medium-sized carpenter bee native to the Americas. The species ranges from 12–18 mm in length and exhibits strong sexual dimorphism: females are entirely black with light smoky-colored wings, while males display yellow hair on the thorax and yellow markings on the lower face. This bee is one of three carpenter bee species found in California and is the smallest of the trio. Research has revealed that despite being solitary, X. tabaniformis hosts a gut microbiome remarkably similar to social bees like honey bees and bumble bees, challenging assumptions about the drivers of microbiome structure in bees.
Xylocopa tabaniformis androleuca
Pale-male Horse-fly Carpenter
Xylocopa tabaniformis androleuca is a subspecies of the mountain carpenter bee, distinguished by its pale male coloration. As part of the Xylocopa tabaniformis species complex, it shares the incipiently social behavior and distinctive gut microbiome characteristic of this group. Research has shown that carpenter bees in this complex harbor bacterial communities more similar to eusocial bees like honey bees and bumble bees than to solitary bees, challenging assumptions about sociality as the main driver of microbiome structure. The subspecies occurs in western North America, where females nest in wood and males exhibit the pale facial markings that give this taxon its common name.
Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex
Foothill Carpenter Bee, Mountain Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex, commonly known as the foothill or mountain carpenter bee, is the smallest of three carpenter bee species in California. Females are solid black with light smoky-colored wings, while males display bright yellow markings on the lower face and yellow hairs on the top front of the thorax. This subspecies exhibits incipient social behavior—lacking queens, hives, and honey production—yet research has revealed it harbors gut bacterial communities remarkably similar to those of highly social bees like honey bees and bumble bees. It nests by tunneling into dead wood and serves as an important pollinator in native plant communities.
Xylocopa tabaniformis parkinsoniae
Xylocopa tabaniformis parkinsoniae is a subspecies of mountain carpenter bee in the family Apidae. It belongs to a species group known for nesting in wood and exhibiting incipient social behavior. Research on related populations has revealed distinctive gut bacterial communities similar to those of eusocial bees, challenging assumptions about microbiome evolution. This subspecies is part of a complex that includes some of the smallest carpenter bees in California.
Xylocopa virginica
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica, the Eastern Carpenter Bee, is a large, facultatively social carpenter bee native to eastern North America. It is distinguished by sexual dimorphism: males have a prominent white facial patch while females have entirely black faces. The species nests by excavating tunnels in wood, creating brood galleries that are later reused by other solitary Hymenoptera. Unlike truly eusocial bees, X. virginica forms linear dominance hierarchies where one female monopolizes reproduction and foraging while subordinates queue for replacement opportunities. Climate, particularly the length of the active season, limits its northern range extent.
Xylocopa virginica krombeini
South Florida Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica krombeini is a subspecies of the eastern carpenter bee restricted to southern Florida. As part of the Xylocopini tribe, it shares the robust body form and wood-nesting behavior characteristic of large carpenter bees. The subspecies designation reflects geographic isolation and potential morphological differentiation from nominate X. virginica populations in the eastern United States. Like other Xylocopa, it is a solitary bee with incipient social traits, including prolonged maternal care and cohabitation of daughters with mothers.
Xylocopa virginica texana
Texas Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica texana is a subspecies of the eastern carpenter bee, distinguished as the Texas Carpenter Bee. Like other carpenter bees in the genus Xylocopa, females excavate nesting galleries in wood, while males defend territories near these sites. The subspecies occurs in Texas and adjacent regions, representing the southwestern extent of Xylocopa virginica's range. Research on related carpenter bees has revealed that these bees host gut bacterial communities similar to social bees like honey bees and bumble bees, despite lacking eusocial organization.
Xylophanes tersa
Tersa Sphinx
Xylophanes tersa, commonly known as the tersa sphinx, is a moth in the family Sphingidae first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1771. It occurs across a broad geographic range from the eastern and central United States through Mexico, the West Indies, Central America, and into South America. The species is notable for its distinctive wing pattern and is recognized as a pollinator with documented larval associations with multiple plant genera.
Zacosmia maculata
Spotted Mini-digger-Cuckoo
Zacosmia maculata is a species of kleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, tribe Melectini. As a cuckoo bee, females do not construct nests or collect pollen; instead, they lay eggs in the nests of host bees, primarily species of Hesperapis. The species occurs in western North America and parts of Middle America.
Zonitis
Zonitis is a genus of blister beetles in the family Meloidae, established by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. The genus belongs to the subfamily Nemognathinae, a group characterized by elongated, nectar-feeding mouthparts. Species of Zonitis are found in North America, with records from the southwestern United States and adjacent regions. Adults have been observed on flowers of various composite plants, particularly in arid and semi-arid habitats.