Polyester-bee
Guides
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 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 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 tectiventris
Hairy-tailed Cellophane Bee
Colletes tectiventris is a solitary ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae, commonly known as the Hairy-tailed Cellophane Bee. Like other Colletes species, it constructs subterranean burrows lined with a cellophane-like secretion from the Dufour's gland. The species was described by Timberlake in 1951 and occurs in North America. Specific details about its biology remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as C. inaequalis and C. thoracicus.
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.