Solitary-bee
Guides
Peponapis crassidentata
Peponapis crassidentata is a species of solitary bee in the family Apidae, tribe Eucerini. It belongs to the genus Peponapis, commonly known as squash bees, which are specialist pollinators of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae. The species was described by Cockerell in 1951. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with cucurbit flowers, though specific ecological details for this species are limited in available sources.
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.
Perdita albipennis
white-winged fairy bee, white-winged perdita, shiny green miner bee
Perdita albipennis is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the white-winged fairy bee or shiny green miner bee. It was described by Cresson in 1868. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Three subspecies are recognized: P. a. albipennis, P. a. canadensis, and P. a. mut.
Perdita bequaerti
Bequaert's miner bee, Bequaert's perdita
Perdita bequaerti is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, native to North America. The species was described by Viereck in 1917 and is one of many small, solitary bees in the genus Perdita. It is known to occur in two subspecies: the nominate P. b. bequaerti and P. b. indianensis described by Cockerell in 1922. Like other Perdita species, it is a ground-nesting bee that excavates burrows in soil.
Perdita bequaertiana
Perdita bequaertiana is a solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cockerell in 1951. It belongs to the subgenus Perdita (Xerophasma), which is endemic to the Mojave Desert region of western North America. The species has been the subject of recent taxonomic revision that provided new distributional records. Members of this subgenus show evolutionary trends toward nocturnal foraging and pale coloration.
Perdita bicuspidariae
Perdita bicuspidariae is a small solitary bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1962. It belongs to the large genus Perdita, which comprises over 800 species of mining bees in North America. The species is found in Central America and North America. As with other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a ground-nesting solitary bee, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Perdita californica
California Fairy Bee
Perdita californica is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the California Fairy Bee. The species is native to California and Baja California, with two recognized subspecies: P. c. californica and P. c. inopina. Like other members of the genus Perdita, it is a solitary bee. The genus Perdita contains over 700 species, many of which are specialist pollinators with narrow host plant associations.
Perdita calochorti
Perdita calochorti is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1956. The specific epithet 'calochorti' suggests an association with Calochortus, a genus of flowering plants commonly known as mariposa lilies or cat's ears. Like other members of the genus Perdita, it is a solitary bee native to North America. The species is represented by minimal observation records, with only one documented iNaturalist observation.
Perdita cladothricis
Perdita cladothricis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1896. It belongs to the large genus Perdita, which contains hundreds of small, often specialist pollinator species native to North America. The species is recorded from Central America and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a solitary, ground-nesting bee, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Perdita claypolei
Perdita claypolei is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1901. It belongs to the genus Perdita, which comprises small, solitary bees commonly known as miner bees. The genus Perdita includes some of the smallest bees in North America, with species ranging from approximately 2 mm to over 10 mm in length. Perdita species are typically specialist pollinators, often associated with specific host plants.
Perdita distropica
Perdita distropica is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1956. As a member of the genus Perdita, it belongs to a diverse group of small, solitary bees native to North America. The specific epithet 'distropica' suggests a distribution pattern that may deviate from typical tropical or subtropical ranges expected for the group. Like other Perdita species, it is likely a ground-nesting solitary bee, though detailed biological studies are limited.
Perdita ericameriae
Perdita ericameriae is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1958. The species epithet "ericameriae" suggests a host-plant association with Ericameria, a genus of shrubs in the sunflower family. Like other Perdita species, it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee native to North America. The genus Perdita comprises some of the smallest bees in North America, with many species showing strong floral specialization.
Perdita fallugiae
Apache Plume Fairy Bee
Perdita fallugiae is a small solitary bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the Apache Plume Fairy Bee. The species was described by Timberlake in 1956. It is found in North America and is associated with Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa), a flowering shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. As a member of the genus Perdita, it is likely a specialist pollinator with a narrow host-plant range.
Perdita fieldi
Perdita fieldi is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1956. It belongs to the large genus Perdita, which contains over 800 species of small, often specialist bees native to North America. Like other Perdita species, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee. The specific epithet honors an individual with the surname Field, though the namesake's identity is not documented in available sources.
Perdita genalis
Perdita genalis is a small, solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1964. It belongs to the genus Perdita, which comprises numerous diminutive bees often specialized in their foraging habits. Members of this genus are among the smallest bees in North America. The species has been documented in Middle America and North America.
Perdita genalis genalis
Perdita genalis genalis is a subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1964. The genus Perdita comprises small, solitary bees that nest in soil. Members of this genus are among the smallest bees in North America. This subspecies belongs to a diverse group of native bees that play important roles as pollinators.
Perdita halictoides
Ground-cherry Fairy Bee, Ground-cherry Perdita, Sweatbee-like Miner Bee
Perdita halictoides is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the ground-cherry fairy bee or sweatbee-like miner bee. The species is found in North America and belongs to a genus of over 800 species of small, often brightly colored bees. Members of the genus Perdita are solitary, ground-nesting bees that typically specialize on particular host plants for pollen collection.
Perdita heliotropii
Heliotrope Fairy Bee
Perdita heliotropii is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1900. The common name "Heliotrope Fairy Bee" reflects its association with heliotrope plants. As a member of the genus Perdita, it belongs to a diverse group of small, solitary bees native to North America. The species epithet "heliotropii" indicates a likely host-plant specialization on Heliotropium species.
Perdita hippolyta
Perdita hippolyta is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Portman and Griswold in 2016. Like other members of the genus Perdita, it is a solitary bee. The genus Perdita is known for containing some of the smallest bees in North America, with many species exhibiting extreme host-plant specialization. As a recently described species, detailed natural history information remains limited.
Perdita hooki
Perdita hooki is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Portman & Neff in 2016. As a member of the genus Perdita, it is a small, solitary bee that nests in the ground. The species is found in Middle America and North America. Like other Perdita species, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations have not been documented.
Perdita interrupta
California Poppy Fairy Bee
Perdita interrupta is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the California Poppy Fairy Bee. It is a solitary, ground-nesting bee native to North America. The species is part of the large genus Perdita, which contains over 800 species of small mining bees in North America. Like other Perdita species, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations require further documentation.
Perdita kiowi
Perdita kiowi is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Griswold in 1988. The genus Perdita comprises small, solitary bees that nest in the ground. This species is found in North America. Like other members of the genus, it is presumed to be a solitary pollinator, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Perdita koebelei
Perdita koebelei is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by P.H. Timberlake in 1964. It is a small, solitary bee native to North America. Like other members of the genus Perdita, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations have not been documented for this species. The species is named in honor of the entomologist H. Koebele.
Perdita koebelei concinna
Perdita koebelei concinna is a subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1964. As a member of the genus Perdita, it is a small, solitary, ground-nesting bee native to North America. The subspecies designation indicates geographic or morphological variation within P. koebelei, though specific distinguishing characteristics have not been widely documented in available literature.
Perdita koebelei koebelei
Perdita koebelei koebelei is a subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1964. Like other members of the genus Perdita, this subspecies belongs to a diverse group of small, solitary, ground-nesting bees native to North America. The genus Perdita contains approximately 800 species, many of which are specialist pollinators with narrow host-plant associations.
Perdita larreae
Perdita larreae is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1896. It belongs to the genus Perdita, which comprises small, often brightly colored solitary bees commonly known as fairy bees or yellow-faced bees. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. As with other members of the genus, it is presumed to be a solitary ground-nesting bee, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Perdita marcialis
Perdita marcialis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1896. The genus Perdita comprises small, solitary bees, with P. marcialis being among the more diminutive members. The species is documented from Central America and North America. As with other Perdita species, it is likely a ground-nesting solitary bee, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Perdita minima
Euphorb Mini-Fairy Bee
Perdita minima is the smallest known bee species, measuring under 2 mm in length and weighing approximately 0.33 mg. This solitary mining bee belongs to the family Andrenidae and is native to the southwestern United States, where it inhabits desert environments. It constructs small nests in sandy soils and has been observed feeding on and pollinating spurges (Euphorbia species).
Perdita nasuta
Perdita nasuta is a species of mining bee in the genus Perdita, family Andrenidae. It was first described by entomologist P.H. Timberlake in 1962. As a member of the large Perdita genus—one of the most diverse bee genera in North America with over 800 species—it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee. Like other Perdita species, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations for this species have not been documented.
Perdita octomaculata
eight-spotted miner bee, eight-spotted perdita, eight-spotted fairy bee
Perdita octomaculata is a small solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae. The species was originally described as Panurgus octomaculatus by Thomas Say in 1824. It is one of approximately 700 species in the genus Perdita, which represents one of the most diverse bee genera in North America. The specific epithet 'octomaculata' refers to eight spots, likely describing a distinctive marking pattern on the body.
Perdita pelargoides
Perdita pelargoides is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cockerell in 1916. It is native to North America. As a member of the genus Perdita, it is likely a small, solitary bee, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented in available sources.
Perdita pilonotata
Perdita pilonotata is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1980. It belongs to the large genus Perdita, which contains over 800 species of small, solitary bees native to North America. Members of this genus are typically specialist pollinators with narrow host plant associations. The species epithet 'pilonotata' refers to distinctive pilose (hairy) markings.
Perdita punctosignata
Perdita punctosignata is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cockerell in 1895. It is one of approximately 800 described species in the genus Perdita, which comprises small, solitary bees native to North America. The species is known to occur in both Central America and North America, with three recognized subspecies distinguished primarily by coloration. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations remain undocumented.
Perdita rhois
Rhus Fairy Bee
Perdita rhois is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1901. It is commonly known as the Rhus Fairy Bee, a name referencing its association with Rhus (sumac) plants. The species occurs in Central America and North America, where it functions as a pollinator. As a member of the genus Perdita, it belongs to one of the most diverse bee genera in North America, characterized by small size and often specialized host-plant relationships.
Perdita rivalis
Perdita rivalis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1958. As a member of the genus Perdita, it belongs to a diverse group of small, solitary bees commonly known as mining bees or fairy bees. The species is recorded from North America. Like other Perdita species, it likely exhibits the typical traits of the genus: small size, solitary nesting behavior in soil, and specialized floral associations, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Perdita sexmaculata
Six-Spotted Fairy Bee, six-spotted perdita
Perdita sexmaculata is a small, solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, commonly known as the Six-Spotted Fairy Bee. The species was described by Cockerell in 1895 and is distributed across Central America and North America. It belongs to the large genus Perdita, which contains some of the smallest bee species in North America. Two subspecies are recognized: P. s. sexmaculata and P. s. octonaria.
Perdita sexmaculata sexmaculata
Perdita sexmaculata sexmaculata is a subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1895. It belongs to the genus Perdita, which comprises small, solitary bees native to North America. Members of this genus are among the smallest bees in North America, with many species measuring only a few millimeters in length. The subspecies designation indicates geographic or morphological variation within the species P. sexmaculata.
Perdita trifasciata
Three-striped Fairy Bee
Perdita trifasciata is a small mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1953. The common name "Three-striped Fairy Bee" refers to its diminutive size and likely abdominal banding pattern. As with other Perdita species, it is a solitary, ground-nesting bee. The species has been recorded in Middle America and North America.
Perdita trisignata
Lotus Fairy Bee
Perdita trisignata is a small, solitary mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cockerell in 1896. The species is known by the common name Lotus Fairy Bee. It belongs to a genus of approximately 800 species of small bees found primarily in North America. Members of the genus Perdita are typically specialist pollinators associated with particular host plants. The specific epithet 'trisignata' likely refers to three distinctive markings on the body.
Perdita turgiceps
Perdita turgiceps is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Timberlake in 1954. It belongs to the genus Perdita, which comprises small, solitary bees commonly known as fairy bees due to their minute size. The species is part of a diverse North American bee fauna that includes over 1,600 species in California alone. Like other Perdita species, it is likely a specialist pollinator, though specific host plant associations for this species have not been documented.
Perdita wyomingensis
Wyoming toothpick grasshopper
Perdita wyomingensis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1922. The species is recorded from North America with limited observational data available. As a member of the genus Perdita, it is a solitary bee, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species name references Wyoming, suggesting a geographic association with that region.
Protandrena
mining bees
Protandrena is a genus of solitary mining bees in the family Andrenidae, containing 50–180 described species depending on taxonomic circumscription. Most species nest underground in sunny areas with sparse vegetation, constructing cells lined with a protective chemical 'wallpaper' that inhibits fungal and bacterial growth. The genus exhibits diverse social structures, with most species solitary but some forming nest aggregations and at least one species (P. evansi) exhibiting communal nesting. Activity is primarily from May to October in temperate regions, with some southern populations active earlier.
Protandrena abdominalis
Protandrena abdominalis is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Cresson in 1878 under the genus Calliopsis. It is part of the genus Protandrena, which comprises small to medium-sized bees that nest in the ground. As with other members of the Panurginae subfamily, this species is a solitary bee with no known social behavior. The species name refers to some characteristic of the abdomen, though the specific trait is not detailed in available sources.
Protosmia
Protosmia is a genus of solitary bees in the family Megachilidae, tribe Osmiini, containing over 30 described species. The genus includes several subgenera, notably Chelostomopsis and Nanosmia. Species within the subgenus Chelostomopsis are broad pollen generalists that nest in preexisting cavities in dead wood or pine cones, using pure resin to construct nest partitions. The genus has a primarily Palaearctic distribution with some species extending into the Nearctic region.
Protoxaea gloriosa
glorious protoxaea
Protoxaea gloriosa is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, subfamily Oxaeinae. Males exhibit pronounced territorial behavior, establishing and defending flowering plants during morning hours to increase mating opportunities with virgin females. The species shows strong seasonality tied to summer rainfall patterns, with principal emergence triggered by first soaking rains. Females collect pollen primarily from Solanum and nectar from Asclepias, Verbesina, and Larrea. This bee is found in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Pseudopanurgus fraterculus timberlakei
A subspecies of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, originally described by Cockerell in 1931. The subspecific epithet honors P.H. Timberlake, a prominent entomologist associated with the University of California, Riverside, whose extensive collections significantly advanced knowledge of North American bees. As a member of the Panurginae, this bee is a solitary ground-nester.
Pseudopanurgus rugosus
Pseudopanurgus rugosus is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, first described by Robertson in 1895. The species is native to North America and Middle America. As a member of the Panurginae subfamily, it is a solitary bee that excavates nests in soil. The specific epithet 'rugosus' refers to a wrinkled or roughened surface texture, likely describing some aspect of the integument.
Ptiloglossa arizonensis
Ptiloglossa arizonensis is a species of plasterer bee in the family Colletidae, described by Timberlake in 1946. It belongs to a genus of bees known for nesting in soil and producing cellophane-like lining materials for their brood cells. The species is native to the southwestern United States, with Arizona in its name reflecting its type locality. Like other members of its genus, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee.
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.