Category: Anthidiine
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Oblong woolcarder bee (Anthidium oblongatum)
Megachilidae > Anthidium > Anthidium oblongatum Oblong woolcarder bee (Anthidium oblongatum) thrives in human-disturbed landscapes like roadsides, backyards, and the margins of agricultural fields. This exotic anthidiine has a strong preference for exotic legumes like birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and crownvetch (Securigera varia). This bee is distinctive with a squat build, green eyes, orange tegulae,…
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European woolcarder bee (Anthidium manicatum)
Megachilidae > Anthidium > Anthidium manicatum European wool-carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) is a highly conspicuous bee of gardens and disturbed habitats. A. manicatum is stocky, with bold black-and-yellow patterning along the abdomen and yellow legs. Large males defend territories by patrolling patches of flowers and using abdominal spines to assault intruders of similar size like…
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European small-woolcarder (Pseudoanthidium nanum)
Megachilidae > Pseudoanthidium > Pseudoanthidium nanum European small-woolcarder (Psuedoanthidium nanum) is found on small weedy asters growing in cracks in the sidewalk. This exotic species thrives in the most industrial and urbanized places. P. nanum is a recent arrival in the northeast, but has since spread to major population centers along the eastern seaboard. Phenology…
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Northern rotund-resin bee (Anthidiellum notatum)
Megachilidae > Anthidiellum > Anthidiellum notatum Dry, dusty fields with weedy legumes offer a good chance of finding northern rotund resin bees (Anthidiellum notatum). Although scarce throughout the region, this tiny black-and-yellow anthiidine can be locally abundant, provided suitable legumes are in flower (exotic weedy legumes are perfectly acceptable). This distinctive bee is unlikely to…
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Anthidium
Anthidium love gardens. Three species of these strongly-marked yellow and black bees have spread widely in the cities and suburbs of North America since being accidentally introduced from Europe in the 20th century. Anthidium nest above ground, either in plant stems or in cavities in trees, walls, or even buildings. Although named for their habit…
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Pseudoanthidium
Pseudoanthidium are tiny, compact anthidiines, with only a single exotic member of the genus found eastern North America. P. nanum is distinctively marked in black and whitish-yellow, with bright orange legs. This Eurasian species was first spotted in New Jersey in 2008 and has since spread throughout the region. Pseudoanthidium are particularly fond of urban…