Category: Backyard Bees
-
Lasioglossum
It’s no wonder that Lasioglossum are often perceived as an identification quagmire by even seasoned bee taxonomists: there are many species of these small metallic bees, most are not as distinctly patterned to the naked eye as other species in the region, and their habitat associations are, for the most part, poorly known. Many of…
-
Halictus
Halictus is a genus of common bees that includes several widespread and abundant species. All Halictus nest in the ground and exhibit some form of sociality, which means they can be found in most months of the growing season. Since the four most common types of Halictus in the northeast are all field-identifiable, we recommend…
-
Agapostemon
Agapostemon are a group of stocky, metallic green bees. With a bit of practice, females of all four species in eastern North America are field identifiable, though males can pose more of a challenge. This group is widespread and commonly found in a variety of habitats, including backyards and gardens. Agapostemon often land on flowers…
-
Orange-tipped wood-digger bee (Anthophora terminalis)
Apidae > Anthophora > Anthophora terminalis Orange-tipped wood-digger bee (Anthophora terminalis) is a distinctive, fast-flying solitary bee of backyards and gardens. From a distance, it resembles a bumble bee worker, but is smaller and grayer, and frequently hovers in front of tubular flowers. Its namesake orange-tipped abdomen can be hard to get a good look…
-
Hoary squash bee (Peponapis pruinosa)
Apidae > Peponapis > Peponapis pruinosa Pruinose squash bee (Peponapis pruinosa) is one of the most common vegetable garden pollinators in the northeast. With a bright orange thorax and protruding clypeus, males and females are distinctive among regional eucerines. For P. pruinosa, the early bee gets the pollen: females are active very early in the…
-
Two-spotted longhorn bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)
Apidae > Melissodes > Melissodes bimaculatus Two-spotted longhorn bee (Melissodes bimaculatus) is one of the most distinctive bees in the northeast. Jet-black, with a zippy flight, and a tendency to visit common garden plants, M. bimaculatus is straightforward to find and identify in summer. Intriguingly, this species has a penchant for foraging on common agricultural…
-
Dunning’s mining bee (Dunning’s miner bee)
Andrenidae > Andrena > Andrena dunningi Dunning’s mining bee (Andrena dunningi) is fond of lazy gardeners: this spring-active species thrives in sunny, unkempt suburban lawns and gardens full of dandelions. It can be distinguished from most other spring-active Andrena by the combination of orange thorax and entirely black abdomen. Phenology Late-March/early-April through May, with latest…
-
Hairy-banded mining bee (Andrena hirticincta)
Andrenidae > Andrena > Andrena hirticincta Hairy-banded mining bee (Andrena hirticincta) is a distinctive late-summer and fall-active mining bee found on goldenrods and asters. Both males and females are covered in long golden hairs on the face, thorax, and abdomen. Look for this species in a variety of habitats including meadows, old fields, roadsides, and…