Tag: colletes
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Colletes
Colletes are small to medium-sized bees with strong abdominal banding are more often found as singletons on flowers than other genera. They are named for the thin cellophane-like lining that they use to line brood cells. All Colletes nest in the ground. Some species are common and field identifiable, whereas others are rare and poorly…
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Rufous-backed cellophane bee (Colletes thoracicus)
Colletidae > Colletes > Colletes thoracicus Rufous-chested cellophane bee (Colletes thoracicus) is the latest of the three spring-flying spring Colletes. This is a “suburban” bee of mid-Atlantic and southern New England states, often occurring in lawns, backyards, and parks. C. thoracicus nests in well-draining soils and is known to associate in massive nesting aggregations that…