Native Bees More than 4,000 species of native bees occur in the US, classified into 6 major families (cheat sheet from University of Arizona). Representatives ofmost of the US families are found in Arizona and New Mexico. [Source] Depending on the source, there are up to 1,500 species found in these two states. About half are specialists that only get pollen from certain flowers. About 2/3 dig nests in soil and no native bees form hives like honeybees. Male bees have no stingers, but they do buzz furiously when held! For the purpose of this page, sizes are approximately in these categories: Tiny 2-6 mm Small 6-10 mm Medium 11-15 mm = honeybees Large 15+ mm This video is a quick overview of native bees, presented by Joseph Wilson, one of the co-authors of The Bees in Your Backyard book. Note: Page under construction. Uncredited pictures are my own and available for use with appropriate credit © Elliott Gordon Halictidae – Sweat Bees Tiny to medium bees, often black with white stripes on abdomen or bright green. Typically ground-nesters, with nests formed in clay soil, sandy banks of streams, etc. Most species are polylectic (collecting pollen from a variety of unrelated plants). Halictidaes are distinguished by the arcuate (curved) basal wing vein as shown here. [Source] Halictinae – Typical Sweat Bees Dialictus (metallic sweat bee) by James Kindt Nomiinae and Rophitinae – Nomia and Shortface Bees Female ‘Arizona Nomia‘ Andrenidae – Miner Bees Andreninae – Large Miner Bees Panurginae – Small Miner Bees These tiny to small bees are often specialists, visiting only one genus or family of plants to collect pollen for their nests. Perdita (fairy bees) and Macrotera (goblin bees) are only found in North America and over 600 species inhabit deserts from California to Texas. All species are solitary, ground-nesting, and tend to fly in summer or fall. Females collect pollen with scopa (leg hairs), but their small size makes them less effective as pollinators. Most species have 2 submarginal cells and short marginal cells with rounded tips. Macrotera specialist bee on globemallow flower Perdita specialist bee on five-eyes flower Calliopsis © Jacob Simon on iNaturalist.org Pseudopanurgus © Chris Mallory on iNaturalist.org Perdita by Julie Stromberg on Flickr Protandrena © Jacob Simon on iNaturalist.org Apidae – Long tongue Bees Eucerini – Longhorn Bees Longhorn bees are represented by 11 genera in our area. Melissodes is the most common, followed by Svastra, Eucera (including Peponapis), and Xenoglossa (squash bees). Male bees have long antenna and female bees have conspicuous, dense scopal hairs on their hind legs. These medium-size bees are all ground nesting, where parasitic Epeolini bees will invade. Male ‘Agile Longhorn’ Female Svastra © hmac73 on iNaturalist.org Male ‘Barrel Cactus Longhorn’ © kneubaue on iNaturalist.org Megachilidae – Leafcutter and Mason Bees Megachile – Leafcutter Bees Abdomen of female Megachile: pollen-carrying hairs attached to sternites below Megachile policaris © John Van Veldhuizen on iNaturalist.org Osmia – Mason Bees Anthidiini – Woolcarder, Pebble, and Resin Bees Ashmeadiella, Heriades, and Lithurgopsis Cuckoo Bees (various families) Triepeolus (longhorn cuckoo bee) by James Kindt Stelis perpulchra by Julie Stromberg on Flickr Xeromelecta californica by Julie Stromberg on Flickr Resources Arizona Bee Identification Guide Related Posts MilkweedDateMay 26, 2023ScorpionweedDateMarch 28, 2023PoppiesDateMarch 28, 2023Share this:FacebookXWhatsAppPinterestRedditPrintLike this:Like Loading...