Category: Genus page
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Stelis
Stelis is a genus of megachilid cleptoparasites, laying eggs in the nests of Megachile, Osmia, Hoplitis, Heriades, and Trachusa. They are stocky but elongate, evenly wide down the length of their bodies, and often with relatively sparse hairs. With the exception of one relatively widespread species, Stelis are generally not often encountered. Stelis are shaped…
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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…
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Paranthidium
Paranthidium are tiny, compact anthidiines, with only a single member of the genus in eastern North America. They are ground-nesting, either digging their own tunnels or co-opting the abandoned tunnels of other bees, and line their nests with plant resins and occasionally pebbles. Our sole northeastern species, P. jugatorium, prefers medium-sized yellow composites like Helianthus…
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Osmia
Osmia is a widespread genus of megachilids, mainly active in spring and early summer. Most are small to medium-sized, pill-shaped, and dark metallic green or blue. Nests occur both above and below ground, including in abandoned bee nests and beneath stones. Although some species are true masons and use mud to line their nests, others…
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Megachile
Megachile is a widespread and highly diverse genus of bees. They range in size from about one-quarter the size of a honey bee, to nearly twice as large. Megachile females transport pollen beneath their abdomens (often holding up their abdomens while foraging). They are united by their varied nesting strategies. Females build linear nests that…
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Hylaeus
Hylaeus are tiny colletid bees that are more wasp-like than bee-like. Their common name (“masked bees”) reflects the strong yellow and white markings often present on their faces – the shape and arrangement of these markings is often helpful for identification. All species nest above ground in cavities and, like all colletids, they line their…
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Colletes
Colletes are small to medium-sized bees with strong abdominal banding. They are named for the thin cellophane-like lining that they use to line brood cells. Colletes in our area range from common garden bees to species so rare they are practically unknown to science. All Colletes nest in the ground – a few species form…
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Augochloropsis
Family: Halictidae Approximate # species in region: 3 Common name: epauletted sweat bee Augochloropsis is yet another genus of shiny green bee. Compared to other Augochlorini, Augochloropsis are often strikingly blueish green, and they have distinctly notched metallic-green tegulae (rather than the dull, oval tegulae of other Augochlorini). Augochloropsis nest underground and likely exhibit some…