Wild Bees of Eastern North America - The Rehan Laband require exposed pith from pruning, mowing, burning, or grazing to make nesting sites available. Females tunnel in the pithy stems

WildBeesofEasternNorthAmericaAguidetocommonpollinators&flowers

Katherine Odanaka, Josh HallSabine Nooten & Sandra Rehan

The Rehan Lab focuses on wild bee research. Wehave special interest in pollinator biodiversity,behaviour, and evolution. This guide joins othereducational books published to explore the regionalnative bee faunas of New England, California and theGreat Lakes region. Our mission is to provideinformation about wild bees in eastern NorthAmerica including information on their diversity,nesting biology, ecology, and flower associations toincrease our understanding and awareness ofpollinators and the services they provide.

The information contained in this field guide is foreducational purposes only. Any references tocommercial products or trade names do not implyendorsement by the Rehan Lab or bias against thosenot mentioned.

This guide was produced by the Rehan Lab in 2019

Any opinions, conclusions or recommendations in thispublication are those of the authors and do not reflectthe view of the Foundation for Food and AgricultureResearch (FFAR)

(coverimagephotocredit:AlexWild)Augochloropsis metallica onTradescantiaohiensis

WildBeesofEasternNorthAmerica

Aguidetocommonpollinators&flowers

ByKatherineOdanaka,JoshHall,SabineNooten&SandraRehan

Fundingprovidedby:FoundationforFoodandAgricultureResearch

FFARGrant#549038

ReviewedbySamDroege,USGS

JoanMilam,UMassAmherst

SpecialthankstoMollyJacobsonforphotographs

1

1Introduction 22Howtousethisguide 53Beebiology 64Beesandflowers 135Beemimics 166Commonbeespecies 217Floweringplantsforbees 628 Beeconservation 1049 Keepingthebees 10710Resources 11111Index 112

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Contents

ThisbookwasproducedtogiveabriefintroductiontothewildbeesofeasternNorthAmerica.Weproviderelevantinformationregardingtheirbiologyandpicturesofcommonlyencounteredwildbeesandnativewildflowersidealforbees,aswellasinformationdetailingwildbeedeclinesthroughouteasternNorthAmerica.

Withinthisguidewehavealsoincludedhelpfulandeasywaystoidentifycommonlyencounteredbeesandsomefrequentbeemimics.

Introduction

Currentpollinatorconservationpracticesencouragetheplantingofwildflowerstoprovidebothnestingandforagingresources.Inthisguide,weprovideseasonallyavailablewildflowersthatarefrequentlyvisitedbybees.Wehaveincludedasectiondetailingtheclosetiesbetweenhumansandwildbees,outlininghowdependentweareontheirecologicalservicesandwhyitisimportanttoconservepollinators.

SabineNooten

3

4

EasternNorthAmericanClimatePe

el,M

.C.eta

l.[CCBY

-SA3.0]W

ikim

ediaCom

mon

s

TheclimateofeasternNorthAmericavariesgreatlywithlatitude.Thisbookfocusesonwidespreadbeesandwildflowers,mostlyfoundinthesubtropicalandtemperateclimates.Thefarnorthernregions(darkgreenandgrey)haverespectivesubarcticandtundraclimates,withextremelycoldwintersandcoldsummers.Thenorthernregions(colouredblueand

turquoise)arecategorized‘humidcontinental’,withshortersummersandcolderwinters.

Köppen climate type

Mostofsouthernstates(colouredbrightgreen)areconsideredtohavea‘humidsubtropicalclimate’withhotsummersandmildwinters.

Theplantsfeaturedinthisguideareabriefsummaryofmanycommonspeciesfoundinthewildandingardensthatareattractivetobees.Theyaresortedinitiallybybloomseasonandthenalphabeticallybytheircommonname.

Thisguideisdesignedtobeanidentificationtoolforanyoneinterestedinbees.Therearethreemainsections:1.beemimics,2.commonspeciesofbees,3.floweringplantsthatprovidebeeswithpollenandnectar.Inaddition,weincludeinformativesectionsaboutrecentbeedeclinesandwhatwecandotoconservethebees.Thebeespeciesaresortedintofamiliesandthenlistedbygenera.Thiswillhelptodistinguishthespeciesbytheiroftentimesminutedifferences.Photographsofeachspecieshavealsobeenincludedtoaidinidentification.

Sabine

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Megachile sp.onsmoothoxeye

Howtousethisguide

5

Somebeespecies,suchasmembersofthegenusAugochlorella, areabrilliant,metallic,race-cargreen.Otherscomeinstrikingpatternsofred,yellow,andblack,suchasmanyofthecuckoobees.BeebehaviourBeesexhibitawidevarietyofbehavioursandnestingstrategiesduetotheirvastdiversity.Oneofthemostunderstoodofallbeesisthenon-nativehoneybeeknownfortheircomplexsocialbehaviour.Honeybeesareeusocial withonequeenandthousandsofworkersalllivinginasinglehive.

Thereareover20,000beesfoundworldwideandabout4,000ofthosespeciesarefoundinNorthAmerica.AcrosseasternNorthAmerica,thereareanestimated770beespecies.Thesebeesappearinavarietyofsizes,shapes,andcolours.ThelargestbeefoundinNorthAmericaisthelargecarpenterbee.

PatrickSchu

ltheiss

Agapostemon virescensBicoloredstriped-sweatbee

Beebiology

6

Uponhatching,thecleptoparasitic beelarvakillsthehostlarvaandfeedsuponitspollenball.Thesebeesarecalledcuckoobeesbecauselikethecuckoobird,adultssneaktheireggsinthenestsofotherspecies.

Incontrast,thevastmajorityofwildbeesaresolitary,inwhichasinglefemalebeeconstructsandprovisionsherownnestwithoutthehelpofotherbees.Therearesomebeesthatwillformlargecommunal aggregations,thatis,femaleswillcometogetherinoneareaandbuildtheirnestsincloseproximitytogether.Otherbeesformcooperativecolonies,muchlikehoneybees,completewithqueensandworkers.Thesecoloniesdonotgrownearlyaslargewithonlydozensofworkersatmost.Thesecolonieslastjustoneseasonbeginninginthespringandendinginthefallwhenthebeesdieoff.Thereareanumberofcleptoparasitic bees.Thesebeesdonotcollecttheirownpollennordotheycreatetheirownnest.Instead,theyenterthenestofanotherbeeandlaytheireggsinnestcells.

MollyJa

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Nomada luteoloides,acuckoobee

7

LifecycleBeesareholometabolous insects,undergoingacompletemetamorphosis.Theyhavefourlifestages:egg,larva,pupa,andadult.Mostsolitarymotherbeesbuildasinglecell,provisionitwithaballmadeofpollenandnectar,layasingleeggonit,andsealthecell.Thisiscalledmassprovisioning.Theeggthenhatchesintoalarva,whichlooksmorelikeapalecaterpillarthanabee.Thelarvahasnoeyesorlegsandspendsitstimedevouringthepollenballandgrowing.Oncethethepollenballisconsumed,thelarvadefecates,molts,andentersthepupal stage.Pupaelooklikebeeshavingeyes,legsandbodysegments,gainingcolourationuntiltheymolt torevealtheirwingsasanadultbee.

CullenFranchino

Lifecycleofthesmallcarpenterbee(Ceratinacalcarata)

8

NestingBeesexhibitarangeofdifferentnestingtypes,i.e.theybuildnestsintheground,rockcrevices,snailshells,plantstems,orinhardwoods.Mostbeesdigasimpleburrowintothegroundthatcontainsafewindividualcells,eachstockedwithpollenandasingleegg.Speciesmaybeattractedtocertainkindsofsoils;somepreferclaysoilsandotherswillonlybefoundneardunesandembankments.Thedepthofnestsdugintothegroundcanreachanywherefromafewcentimetrestoafewmetresbelowthesurface.Otherbeesprefertonestinanexistingcrevice,e.g.bumblebeesnestinabandonedrodentholes,clumpsofgrass,andevencompostpilesoroldmattresses.Stems,rottinglogs,andburrowsmadebyotherinsectsareusedbysomebeespeciestobuildtheirnests.

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GroundnestingbeeColletesvalidus

9

Sand

raReh

an

Crosssectionofbeenestintheground

Osmiacornifrons (male)emergingfromstemnest

Smallcarpenterbeespreferdead,brokenstemsofsumacandraspberryasnestsites.Thesebeescannotchewthroughtheexteriorbarkofastemandrequireexposedpithfrompruning,mowing,burning,orgrazingtomakenestingsitesavailable.Femalestunnelinthepithystemsfromafewcentimetrestoametrelong.Largecarpenterbeesformtheirnestsbyboringintomanmadehardwoods.Inpre-colonialtimes,carpenterbeeslivedindeadlogsandtreetrunks.Otherstemnestingbeeswillfindandusepre-existingcavitiesmadebybeetlesandotherinsects.Masonorleaf-cutterbees,willthenlinethoseburrowswithbitsofleaves,flowerpetals,mud,orevendownyplantfibersinordertopartitiontheirnest.

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CullenFranchino

Ceratinacalcaratasmallcarpenterbee

KatherineOdanaka

Likesize,shapeisalsovariablerangingfromslendermaskedandminingbeestorobustbumble,carpenterandwoolcarderbees.Beescomeinmanydifferentcolours,fromredsandbrowns,metallicgreensandblues,toblackandyellow.Aneasywaytodistinguishawaspfromabeeisbytheamountofhairontheinsect’sbody.Somebeesarequitehairywhileothershavesparsepatches,butallbeeshavebranchedhairsontheirbodies.Waspsaregenerallypredatorsfeedingtheiroffspringotherinsectsorspiderswhilebeestypicallyfeedonpollenandnectar.

BeeidentificationBeescomeinmanydifferentshapesandsizes.Theyrangefromlessthan2mmtoabout40mminsize.ThelargestspeciesfoundinNorthAmericaarelargecarpenterbeesandqueenbumblebees,bothreaching30-40mmlong.Manybeesaremuchsmaller,likethemetallicsweatbeesthatareabout6mminlength.

MollyJa

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XylocopavirginicaEasterncarpenterbee

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BeeanatomyLikeallinsects,beeshavesixlegsandtheirbodiesaredividedintothreemainsections:head,thorax,andabdomen.Femalebeeshavebranchedhairsthataretypicallydenseonhindlegsandabdomen.Beeshavefourwingsandlongslenderantennae.Fliesonlyhavetwowingsandshorter,stubbyantennae.Waspsalsohavefourwingsandlongantenna,butaretypicallylesshairythanbees.

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CullenFranchino

Ceratina calcarataForeleg

Head

Antennae

Forewing

HindWing

Abdomen

MidLeg HindLeg

Thorax

FloweringplantsBeesaregenerallythoughttohaveappearedonearthmillionsofyearsagoduringtheCretaceousperiod.Atthesametime,floweringplants,knownasAngiosperms,expandedwidelyinshape,formandsize.Thisgroupofplantswerethefirsttouseflowersforreproduction.Stamensproducepollenthatwhendepositedonthepistil,fertilizereproductivecellswhichdevelopintoseedsthatproducethenextgenerationofplants.Thissystemreliesonspreadingpollenbywind,waterormobileanimals-pollinators,thelatterbeingmoreefficient.

BeesandFlowers

JoshHall

Lilium sp.

Attractingpollinatorsiscostlyforplants.Flowersproducepollen,oils,andnectarasarewardforpollinationservices.Animalsfeedonthenectarandsimultaneouslydistributethepollencollectedfromotherplants.Insects,beesespecially,arethemostefficientandeffectivepollinators.

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Adultbeesfeedonnectar,whiletheiroffspringeatamixtureofnectarandpollen.Manybeeshavedevelopedspecializedmechanismsontheirlegsorabdomenscalledscopaeorcorbiculaetocollectandstorepollen.Scopaearecomposedoflong,stiffhairsthathavemanyminisculebranchestoholdlargequantitiesofpollen.Formostspecies,thescopae areonthelegs,butsomespecieshavescopae locatedatthesidesandundersideoftheabdomen(right).Bumblebeesandhoneybeesdonothavescopae.Insteadtheyhavepollenbasketscalledcorbiculaethatareflatareasontheirhindlegs(left).Bumblebeespackamixtureofpollenandnectarontotheircorbiculaetotakebacktotheirnest.

Beesandplants

Sabine

Noo

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Sabine

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Bombussp.&Hoplitissp.onwildbergamot(Monarda fistulosa)

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Throughtheprocessofco-evolution,beesbecamethemostspecializedandeffectiveanimalpollinators.Beesdevelopedawidearrayofnectarfeedingandpollencarryingfeatures,whileflowersdevelopedmanydifferentshapesandsizestoattractpollinators.Mostbeesaregeneralists,meaningthattheyvisitanytypeofflowertheycangetnectarfrom.Whereasotherbeeshavebecomesospecializedthattheyonlyvisitoneorafewtypesofflowers.Thesebeesarefittinglycalledspecialists.Oneexampleisthesquashbee,Eucera pruinosa.Thisbeeissospecializedthatitisonlyfoundonplantsinthecucurbitfamily,e.g.squashesandmelons.Squashblossomsopenintheearlymorninghours.Malesquashbeesoftenspendthenightinsidetheclosedsquashflowerwaitingtomatewithfemalesarrivingearlyinthemorningtopollinatesquashflowers.

MollyJa

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Eucera pruinosaspecialistsquashbee 15

PatrickSchu

ltheiss

Lasioglossumpilosum(male)- generalist

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Toxomerus germinatus

Therearemanyotherinsectsthatarefrequentfloralvisitorsthat,likebees,feedonnectarandtransportpollen.Theseincludeflies,wasps,ants,beetlesandbutterflies.Someofthemlookremarkablylikebeesandtheyaredescribedinthefollowingpages.

Beemimics&otherpollinators

FlowerfliesSyrphidae

TheSyrphidae,orflowerflies,frequentlyvisitflowerstocollectnectar.Syrphidsareoftenmistakenforbees.Manyofthemmimicbeeswiththeirdarkbandingandyellowcolouration.Theirtwowings,shortantennae,andlargeeyesdistinguishthemfrombeesandwasps.

17

Sabine

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Philanthus gibbosus

HummingbirdMothSphingidae

Sandwasps,beewolves &others

MollyJacobson

Hemaris diffinis

Thesemothsaresometimesmistakenasbumblebeemimicsduetotheirsizeandcolouration.Theyareattractedtomanyflowers,includingblueberry,andareoftenseenhoveringinflight.

Diggerwasps(Crabronidae)arecloselyrelatedtobees.Mostlynestingintheground,thesewaspsprovisiontheirlarvaewithotherinsects,unlikebeesthatprovisionwithpollen.Preyitemswillvaryamongstthedifferentspecies,andsomeofthesewaspsevenhuntbees.

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Vespidwasps Vespidae

Thisgroupincludesthepaperwasps,yellowjacketsandhornets.AsmembersoftheVespidae,thesewaspsareeusocialandhaveaqueen,likethehoneybee.Theseeusocialspeciescanbeaggressivewhenthecolonyisdisturbedandaremuchmorelikelytostingthanbees.Paperwaspscanbeseenscavengingorhuntingwherefoodispresentandarewidelymisidentifiedasbees.Theyareespeciallyattractedtopicnicsandoutdoorgatherings,inordertofindmeatprovisionsfortheirlarvae.Adultwaspsareomnivoresandcanalsocommonlybeseentakingnectarfromflowers.

MollyJa

cobson

Dolichovespula sp.

Wikiped

ia.org

Awaspnest

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TomM

urray;Bugguide.ne

t

Chauliognathuspensylvanicus

BeeFlies Bombyliidae

SoldierbeetlesCantharidae

BobWeb

ster;B

ugguide.ne

t

Systoechus vulgaris

Beefliescanbefoundinspring,hoveringoverthegroundandnectaring atflowers.Theirhairybodiespickuppollen.Asbeefliesmoveamongflowers,theypollinatetheplants.Beefliesfiretheireggsintobeenestsandtheirlarvaeareparasitesofbees.

Commonlyfoundongoldenrodsduringthesummer,theseblackandorangebeetlesfeedonpollenandnectarasadults.Duetotheirfrequentpresence,theyareavidpollinatorsofflowers

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MollyJa

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Laphria sp.

Robberflies Asilidae

LocustBorerCerambycidaeMegacyllene robiniae

Robberfliesarepredatory,largebodiedfliesandafewgeneracontainspeciesthatareexceptionalbumblebeemimics.Thepresenceofonlytwowings,shortantenna,largeeyes,andlongmouthpartssetsthesefliesapartfromthebeestheyimitate.

MJH

atfie

ld;stevenanz.com

Megacyllene robiniae

Adultsoftheselong-hornedbeetlesarecommonlyfoundongoldenrodinlatesummertakingnectarandpollenfromtheflowers.Duetotheircolouration,sometimestheyaresometimesmistakenforbees.TheirlarvaenestinthebarkofBlackLocustdeciduoustrees.

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Thereareanestimated770wildbeespeciesineasternNorthAmerica,anexhaustivelistwouldgobeyondthescopeofthisguide.Herewefocusonaselectionofthemostcommonlyencounteredspecies.Beesaregroupedbyfamilyandthenbygenus.Aparticularlycuriousgroupofbees– thecuckoobeesaredescribedattheendofthissection.

Commonbeespecies

AllmembersofthefamilyAndrenidaelinetheirundergroundnestsinawaterproofsubstancetoreducemoistureandmould.Femalesmassprovisiontheiroffspringwithaballofpollenandnectaronwhichtheylayasingleegg.Uponhatching,larvaefeedonthepollenball,pupateandemergethatfallornextspring.

CullenFranchino

Andrenasp.

MiningbeesAndrenidaeAndrena

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ThegenusAndrena, commonlyreferredtoasminingbees,isoneofthemostdiverse,withover1400speciesworldwideandabout130speciesineasternNorthAmerica.Miningbeesaresolitaryandnestinsimpleburrowstheydigintheground.Thedepthoftheburrowsrangebetweenafewcentimetrestooverametre.ThereisonegenerationofAndrena peryear.Theadultsofmostspeciesflyonlyforsixweeks.SomespeciescomeoutinsummerorfallwhileotherAndrena speciesareamongthefirstbeestoemergeintheearlyspring,sometimesoccurringevenwhensnowisstillpresentandflowersarejuststartingtobloom.

Miningbeescontinued

Miningbeescanbeeitherfloralgeneralistsorspecialists.ManyfruitcropsarepollinatedbygeneralistspringflyingAndrenaspecies,suchastheappleblossomontheright.

KatherineOdanaka

Appleblossom-Malus pumila

Andrenawilkella isanintroducedlarge,commonbeefoundacrosseasternNorthAmerica.Ithasablackbodyandthickyellowhaircoveringthebackofitshead,thorax,andlegswhichitusestogatherlargeamountsofpollen.Itsmostcommonlyfoundonintroducedcrownvetch.

23

Miningbeescontinued

MollyJa

cobson

Andrenacarlini

Rebe

ccaDe

w

Andrenawilkella

Andrenacarlini is alarge,darkspecies thatismostactiveinthelatespringandearlysummerandisabroadgeneralist.Ithasablackbodyandpaleyellowhairsonitsthorax.ThisbeeissimilartoA.vicina,butcanbedistinguishedbythesolidblackhaironitshindlegs.

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Andrenavicina isamediumsizedbee,commonthroughoutsouthernCanadaandnorthernUS.

ItismostcommonlymistakenforA.carlini, butisdistinguishedbyhavinglonger,denserandlighterthoracichair.

A.vicina actsasabroadgeneralistthroughoutthespringandsummerandcanbefoundpollinatingcropslikeappleandblueberry.

KatherineOdanaka

Andrenavicina

MiningbeescontinuedMollyJa

cobson

25

Apismellifera, commonlyknownastheEuropeanhoneybee,wasintroducedtotheUSinthelate1600’s.Itiseusocialinnature,creatinglargecoloniesincavitiesandmanmadehiveswithasinglereproductivequeenandmanyworkersanddrones.Thisbeehasauniquecolourpattern:multiplebandsofdarkbrownandamberacrossitsabdomen,whileitsheadandthoraxareblack.Honeybeesareactivethroughouttheyearinareaswhereitiswarmenoughtosupportthem.Theentirecolonypersiststhroughthewinterunlikenativebeespecies.Honeybeeworkershaveauniquelybarbedstingerandcanonlystingonce,dyingshortlythereafter.Thisspeciesisalsotheonlyoneknowntocausehumanallergicreactions.Honeybeesaregeneralistpollinatorsfeedingonmanydifferentflowers.TodatetheyarethemostmassproducedcommercialcroppollinatorworldwideandtheonlybeespeciesinAmericanorthofMexicothatmakeshoney. Cé

liaBo

rdier

Apis mellifera

Honeybees ApidaeApis

laterintheseason.Theyareoftenobservedforagingonlateseasonplants.Somebumblebeespeciesarecommerciallyusedtopollinatecrops,suchastomatoesandblueberries,duetotheirabilitytobuzztheirflightmusclesatthefrequencyneededforpollentobereleasedbytheflower.

26

ThegenusBombus isthegroupcommonlyreferredtoasthebumblebees.Theyarelargebeesthataredenselycoveredinblack,yellowandoccasionallyorangehairs.Bumblebeescangenerateheatbyvibratingthemusclesthatcontroltheirwingswhichenablesthemtoflyincoldtemperatures.Becauseofthisability,bumblebeesarefoundfarthernorthandinhigherelevationsthanotherbees.Theyarealsoimportantpollinatorsofearlyspringcropsbecausetheywillflyincolderandwetterweatherthanmanagedhoneybees.Coloniesareestablishedbyqueensintheearlyspring,usuallyinabandonedrodentburrowsandcrevices.Smallerworkersareproducedinspring- summerwhilemalesarepresent

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Bombussp.

BumblebeesApidaeBombus

27

Thetwo-spottedbumblebee,Bombusbimaculatus,isverycommonthroughouteasternNorthAmerica.ItisactivefromMarchtoSeptember,itisthefirstbumblebeeoutinspringandactsasageneralistpollinatorforalargevarietyofplants.Thetwo-spottedbumblebeeisoftenmistakenforitscloserelatives,thecommoneasternbumblebee(B.impatiens) andthebrown-beltedbumblebee(B.griseocollis).Femalescanbedifferentiatedbytheirlongerfaceandthepresenceoftwoyellowpatchesontheabdomen;malesarehighlyvariableinpatterning,oftenwithextensiveyellowcolouration.

Bombus bimaculatus

Bumblebeescontinued

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MollyJa

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Bombus griseocollis (male)

Thebrown-beltedbumblebeeB.griseocollisreceivedthisnamefromthebrownstripeacrossitsabdomenbelowthefirstyellowstripe.Thisdistinguishesitfromothersimilarspecies.Thisbumblebeeiscommoningardens.Thebrown-beltedbumblebeeiscommonacrossNorthAmericaandisactivefromFebruarytoAugust.Likeitsrelatives,itactsasaverybroadgeneralistpollinator,feedingonamultitudeofflowers.

MollyJa

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Bumblebeescontinued

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Thecommoneasternbumblebee,B.impatiens,canbeidentifiedbythesingleyellowbandacrossitsabdomen.Asthenamesuggests,itisthemostpopulousbumblebeeacrosseasternNorthAmerica.Thisbumblebeeisveryadaptable,allowingittoactasapollinatorformanyplants.Assuch,itisfrequentlyusedcommerciallyfortomatoesandotherbuzzpollinatedcrops.Coloniescanbepurchasedforfarmerstosupplementpollinationfortheircrops.B.impatiensisaspeciesincreasinginnumbersoverrecentyearsandisnotcompromisedbythemanydiseasesthoughttohavecontributedtothelocalextinctionoftherustypatchbumblebee,B.affinis.

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Bombus impatiens

Bumblebeescontinued

KatherineOdanaka

30

Theperplexingbumblebee,B.perplexus,canbefoundthroughoutnorthernNorthAmericabutisuncommonorabsentinthesouthernstates.ThethreeyellowstripesacrosstheabdomenofthemalemakesthemappearmuchmoreyellowthanothercommonlyencounteredBombus species.ActivefromApriltoSeptember,thisbeecanbefoundaroundforests,orchards,andevensomebogs.Theperplexingbumblebeeisageneralistpollinatorandwillvisitmanydifferentkindsofplantsincludingblueberryandraspberry.

Bumblebeescontinued

MollyJa

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Bombusperplexus(male)

KatherineOdanaka

Blueberry(Vaccinium corymbosum)

31

Thelargecarpenterbee,Xylocopavirginica, isthelargestNorthAmericanbeespecies(~40mmlong).Itburrowsintomanmadewoodenstructures,butitdoesnotdigdeepandonlycausesstructuraldamageifaggregationsareimmense.Thisbeeisageneralistpollinator,feedingonmanyflowersduringsummer.Itisblackwiththick,yellowhairsonthethorax,andcanbemistakenasabumblebee.Thelargecarpenterbeecanbeidentifiedbyitsshinyblackandbroadabdomen.Males,whichhaveaivorysquareontheirface,exhibitaggressiveandterritorialbehaviourtowards

MollyJa

cobson

Xylocopa virginica

eachother.Theywillconfrontpresumedthreatsbyapproachingandflyingaroundtheintruderinanattempttochasethemaway.Malecarpenterbeeswillnotbiteandallmalebeesareincapableofstinging.Femaleshavesolidblackfacesandarecapableofstinging,butarenotaggressiveorterritorial.

LargecarpenterbeeApidaeXylocopa

32

ThebeesinthegenusCeratina areknownasthesmallcarpenterbees.Theydigoutthesoftcentre-thepith- ofoldsticksandstemstocreatetheirnests.Raspberryandsumacaretheirpreferredplantstobuildnests.Smallcarpenterbeesbuildcellsalongthelengthofthestick,layingoneeggineachcellwithawallofwoodshavings,heldtogetherwithmandibularsecretionstomakeapaste,in-betweenthem.Theyaredarkcolouredwithametallicsheenandwaterbottleridgeshapedabdomen.Thesmallcarpenterbee,C.calcarata,iscommonthroughouteasternNorthAmerica.Itisbluetoblue-greenwithaveryreflectivesurfaceandisactivefromearlyspringtolatefall.Malesandfemalesofthisspeciescanbeeasilydistinguished;themaleshaveasmallwhitepatchontheirfaceintheshapeofanupsidedownTandfemaleshaveasmalllineorspot.Asageneralist,thisbeeisvaluedforitsabilitytopollinateawidevarietyoffloweringplantsandcrops,suchasraspberry.

CullenFranchino

Ceratinacalcarata

SmallcarpenterbeeApidaeCeratina

33

BeesinthegenusMelissodesarecommonlyreferredtoasthe“long-hornedbees”becauseofthelengthyantennaeofthemales.Manyofthebeesinthisgrouparespecialistpollinatorsthatfocusonlyononetypeofflower.Long-hornedbeesaresolitarily,groundnestingbees,andtheyareactivethroughoutthesummer.Thickhairsonthelegs,thoraxandheadarecommontoMelissodes.Thetwo-spottedlong-hornbeeM.bimaculata hasacompletelyblackbodyandveryhairyhindlegs.Thelegsarehairywithmostlypaleorwhitecolouration.

MollyJa

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Melissodesbimaculata

Thisbeeisactivethroughoutthesummerandisageneralistpollinator.Thepollinationdonebytwo-spottedlong-hornbeecomplementsthatofthesquashbee,Eucera pruinosa, bothessentialtosummerbloomingcropslikemelonsandsquash.

Long-hornedbeesApidaeMelissodes

34

Theorangesunflowerbee,Melissodestrinodis,isamediumsizedbeewithvibrantyellow-orangecolouredhairsonablackbody.Thedensehairsthicklycoveringthelegs,head,andthoraxareconsistentwithothermembersofthegenus.Thesparselaterallinesacrosstheabdomen,givesthisbeeastripedappearance.

MollyJa

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Melissodestrinodis

Anne

Ewert

Helianthusannuus

ThemainsourceofpollenforthisspeciesisthegenusHelianthus,morecommonlyknownassunflowers.Althoughtheyaregeneralistspollinators,iftherearesunflowersintheareatheyarestronglyattractedtothem.

Longhornedbeescontinued

35

Theeasterncucurbit(orsquash)bee,Eucerapruinosa, iscommonthroughoutthesummerandearlyfallthroughoutNorthAmericaandMexico.Thismediumsized,blackbeehasthickyellowhairsandwhitestripesontheabdomen.Itisaspecialistpollinatorforplantsinthegourdfamily(Cucurbitaceae)whichincludesmanypopularvegetableslikesquash,pumpkins,zucchiniandsomemelons.Femalesquashbeesdigburrowstonestneartheseplants.Malesarecommonlyfoundsleepingintheflowersingroups.

MollyJa

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Eucera pruinosa

SquashbeesApidaeEucera (formerly Peponapis)

36

Thecommonnameofcellophanebeescomesfromawaterproofliquidsecretionthatmembersofthisgenususetolinethewallsoftheirburrows.Whendriedthisliquidresemblesthecrinkly,waxylookofcellophane.Thecellophanebeesaremediumtolargesizedground-nestingbeesandareoneofthefirstbeestoemergeinearlyspring.CellophanebeesofthegenusColletes arehairy,muchlikeAndrena species.Bycontrast,Hylaeuscellophanebeesarealmosthairlessandhaveawasp-likeappearance.

CellophanebeesColletidaeColletes

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Colletessp.

Cellophanebeesaresolitarynesters,butsomeColletes specieshaveapreferencetonestinsandysoilswhichoftenresultsinlargeaggregations.

Mostspeciesarefoundinavarietyofsoiltypesanddonotformaggregations.

37

Cellophanebeescontinued

Colletesinaequalis

MollyJa

cobson

ThecellophanebeeColletesinaequalisisacommonground-dwellingbeethatemergesearlyinspring.Becausethisbeeisafloralgeneralistandappearsveryearlyintheseason,itvisitsearlyspringbloomingflowersandtrees.C.inaequalisarecommoninappleandblueberryorchards.

KatherineOdanaka

Appleorchard

38

Theblueberrycellophanebee,Colletesvalidus,isamedium-sizedbeewithafacethatischaracteristicallylongerthanwide.Ithasablackbodywithlateralstripesofwhitehairsrunningacrosstheabdomenandpaleyellowhairscoveringitsthorax.ItisthoughttobeaspecialistonthecommerciallygrownNorthAmericanhighbushblueberryVacciniumcorymbosum.

MollyJacobson

Colletesvalidus

CellophanebeescontinuedKatherineOdanaka

Vaccinium corymbosum

39

Maskedbeesalsoproducecellophanetolinetheirnests,butaremuchsmallerandmostlyhairless.Theyliveinpre-existingholesandaresolitary.Insteadofcarryingpollenonbranchedhairslikemostbees,Hyaleus beesstorepolleninternallyintheircrop,asimilarstructuretoourstomach.Theyeatthepollenandthenregurgitateitwhenneeded.Becauseoftheirsmallsizeandhairlessbodies,theycanbemistakenforwasps.ThecommonlyfoundyellowfacedmaskedbeeHylaeus modestus isasmallblackbeewithvibrantyellowpatchesonthehead,thorax,andlegs.

MollyJa

cobson

Hylaeus modestus

Theyellowfacedmaskedbeeisabroadfloralgeneralist,activefromMaytoSeptemberandcanbefoundthroughouteasternNorthAmerica.

MaskedbeesColletidaeHyaleus

40

Thebandedsweatbeesarenamedduetothewhitebandsontheirabdomensandtheirattractiontohumanperspiration.Itisthoughtthattheyusethesaltfornutrition.MembersofthegenusHalictusarewide-spreadacrosstheNorthernHemisphere.Theyaresomeofthemostcommonbeesinanygivenarea,makingthemimportantpollinatorsoffloweringplants.MostHalictus speciesareeusocial,withqueensandworkers,formingcoloniesinundergroundburrows,similartobumblebees.Colonieshaveavaryinsize,commonly10-20beesandupto200individuals.

MollyJa

cobson

Halictus ligatus onoxeyedaisy(Leucanthemum vulgare)

BandedsweatbeesHalictidaeHalictus

41

MollyJa

cobson

Halictusconfusus

Sabine

Noo

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Halictus ligatus

ThesweatbeeHalictusligatusismediumsized(7-8mm)andblackwithlightcolouredhairsonthethorax.Whitebandsstretchacrosstheabdomen.Thisbeehasalargehead.Thiseusocial,generalistbeepreferscompositeflowersandiswidespreadacrossNorthAmericaincludingMexico.

Thesouthernbronzefurrowbee,Halictusconfusus,issmallanddullgreenwithboldwhitebandsonitsabdomen.Thisbeeisabroadgeneralistpollinatorthatformssocialcoloniesingroundburrows.ItcanbefoundacrossNorthAmericaduringspringandsummermonths.

Bandedsweatbeescontinued

42

MollyJa

cobson

Halictus rubicundus

Bandedsweatbeescontinued

ThesweatbeeHalictusrubicundusisamedium-sizedbeewithablackbodywithbandsofhairontheirabdomenthatappearaswhitestripes.ItcanbedistinguishedfromH.ligatusbythelackofthetriangularshapedpointed,spine-likeprojectionatthebaseofitscheekandmuchnarrowerhead.Thissweatbeehasaworldwidedistributionandcanbefoundonmultiplecontinents,includingNorthAmerica,Europe,andAsia.Itisactivefromearlyspringtolatesummerandactsasageneralistpollinator.Likeothersinthisgroup,itiseusocialandlivesinsmallcoloniesinnestsbeneaththesoil.

43

ThegeneraAgapostemon,Augochloropsis,Augochlorella,andAugochlora arecommonlygroupedtogetherandcalledthegreensweatbees.Thesevibrantlycoloured,race-cargreenspeciescanlookverysimilar.Thefemalesofallgeneraareentirelygreen,exceptforthebicolouredstripedsweatbee,Agapostemonvirescens.Agapostemonvirescensisamediumsized,metallic,greenbeethatiscommonacrosssouthernCanadaandthenorthernUS.Thisspeciesnestscommunallywithuptotwodozenfemalessharinganestentrance,buteachindividualbuildsandprovisionsitsownbroodcells.

DifferentfromotherAgapostemon species,malebicolouredstripedsweatbeeshavebeenfoundtonestwithfemales.GreensweatbeesarebroadgeneralistpollinatorsactivethroughoutthewarmseasonfromMaytoOctober.

Sand

raReh

an

Agapostemon virescensBicoloredstriped-sweatbee

GreensweatbeesHalictidaeAgapostemon&similar

BothA.sericeus andA.texanus aremediumsizedbeeswithallgreenfemales.MalesofbothspecieshavegreenheadsandthoracesandstripedabdomensthathavetheappearanceoffemaleA.virescens.Thehuesofgreencanbemoreyellowormorebluedependingonthegeographicallocationoftheindividual.A.texanusismorewidespreadacrossNorthAmericathanA.seriecus.Bothspecies areknowntonestinthegroundwheremultiplefemalesshareasingleentrance.Insidethenest,eachfemalehastheirowncellwheretheystockfoodandtakecareoftheiryoung.

SteveNanz;steven

anz.com

Agapostemon sericeus

MollyJa

cobson

Agapostemontexanus

44

Greensweatbeescontinued

45

Célia

Bordier

Augochlora pura

ThegreensweatbeeAugochlora pura isasmall,shinybeeoftenfoundinwoodedareaswhereitnestsinpre-existingcavitiesinrottingwood.Interestingly,whilenormallygreen,therehavebeenindividualsfoundwithdeepblueandbrightyellowovertones.Thesebeesnestsolitarily,butdependingonnestingresourceavailability,femalesmaynestincloseproximity.Somenestshaveevenbeenfoundtowindbetweeneachother.Asageneralist,thisgreensweatbeepollinatesawidevarietyofflowersduringspringandsummerseason.Itisacommonvisitortogardens.


46

ThemediumsizedbrilliantgreenbeeAugochloropsis metallicaisfoundacrossNorthAmerica.Thisgeneralistpollinatornestsinthegroundandisactiveduringsummer.Itcanbedistinguishedfromothergreensweatbeesbyits‘D’shapedtegula (wingattachmentcover).

MollyJa

cobson

Augochloropsis metallica

Célia

Bordier

Augochlorella aurata

Augochlorella aurata isasmallmetallicgreenbee,sometimeswithblue,yellow,orcopperhues.ThisgeneralistpollinatorisfoundfromtheRockyMountainstotheeasterncoastbetweenMaytoOctober.Theyprimarilynestsocially,butoccasionallysolitarilyincoolerclimates.


47

Lasioglossum isoneofthemostwidespreadandnumerousgenerainNorthAmericaandcanbefoundfromspringthroughlatefall.Thereareroughly300speciesinNorthAmericaandabout120speciesineasternNorthAmerica.Theyrangefrom3-12mminsize.Membersinthisgenusrangeincolourfromblackanddulltogreenandmetallicspecies.Manyappearsimilarincolourandshapeandarechallengingtotellapart- evenforexperts.WhilemanyspeciesofLasioglossum aresolitary,somearesocialandformeusocialcolonies.

MollyJa

cobson

Lasioglossumtegulare

Célia

Bordier

SmalldarksweatbeesHalictidaeLasioglossum

Thesmall,darksweatbeeLasioglossumpilosum isaverycommonbee.Thisgoldengreenbeeissmallinsizeandhasdensewoollyhairscoveringmostofitsbody.ItisfoundthroughouteasternNorthAmericabetweenMarchandOctober.Asabroadgeneralistpollinator,ithasbeenrecordedvisitingover80differentfloweringplantspecies.Itnestsinthesoil.

48

TomM

urray;Bugguide.ne

t

Lasioglossumpilosum

Smalldarksweatbeescontinued

49

BeesinthegenusAnthidium arealsoknownaswoolcarderbees.Thenamederivedfromthefemale’sabilitytousetheirlarge,sharpjawstogathersoftplantfiberstoinsulatetheirnests.AboutfivespeciesofAnthidium canbefoundineasternNorthAmerica,twoofwhichareinvasive.AparticularlystrikingbehaviourthatsetsAnthidiumapartfromotherbeesisthatmalesterritoriallydefendapatchofflowers.Becauseoftheiraggressivenature,malesareknowntokillotherbeesthathappentowanderintotheirterritory.Mostwoolcarderbeespeciescanberecognisedbytheirdistinctyellowandblackcolourationsandbrightlycolouredeyes.Despitethiscolourationtheyshouldnobeconfusedwithwasps– seephotobelowforcomparison.

MollyJa

cobson

Anthidiummanicatum(bee)

Philanthus ventilabris(wasp)

WoolcarderbeesMegachilidaeAnthidium

50

MollyJa

cobson

Anthidiummanicatum

TheEuropeanwoolcarderbee,Anthidiummanicatum,isamediumsizedbeewithblackandyellowcolouration.ItwasintroducedtotheUSfromEuropeinthe1960’sandquicklycolonizedthecontinent.Thisbeere-usesoldnestingsitesandcavities,makingiteasytospread.

Woolcarderbeescontinued

Theoblongwoolcarderbee,Anthidiumoblongatum,isblackwithyellowbandsalongitsheadandabdomen.TheyaregenerallysmallerthanA.manicatum.OriginallyfromEurope,itisfoundthroughouteasternNorthAmericaduringsummerandautumn.Thisbeeisattractedtobird’sfoottrefoil,Lotuscorniculatus.

MollyJa

cobson

Anthidiumoblongatum

51

ThegenusMegachile arecommonlyknownasleaf-cutterbees.Femalebeeschewoffpiecesofleavesandpetalstoincorporateintotheirnests.Unlikemanybees,femaleswilloftenmakemultiplenests.Thesebeesnestreadilyinpre-existingcavitiesandcanbeattractedtogardensbyinstallingbeehotels.TheyemergeearlyinspringandareactivethroughSeptember.Usuallygeneralistpollinatorssomeareextremespecialists,suchasM.pugnata thatusessunflowersandrelatedspecies.Thealfalfaleaf-cutterbeeMegachilerotundata,isanimportantcroppollinatorforexample,alfalfaandcarrots.Thisbeeisthesmallestmemberofitsgroup.OriginallyfromEuropeandnotnativetoNorthAmerica,itisnowquitecommonandnaturalizedinmanypartsoftheworld.

MollyJa

cobson

Megachile rotundata

Leaf-cutterbeesMegachilidaeMegachile

52

Megachileinimica sayi isasubspeciesofthemorewidespread‘hostileleaf-cutterbee’,M.inimica.NativetoNorthAmerica,thisbeeisastrongspecialistonplantsfromthefamilyAsteraceae,includingsunflowers.Itdiffersinlegcolour(black)fromitssouthernrelativethatextendsitsrangeintoSouthAmerica.

MollyJa

cobson

Megachile inimica sayi

MollyJa

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Megachile mendica

Megachile mendica isamedium-sized,blackbeewithwhitehairsonitshead,thorax,andabdomen,forminglateralbandsonthelatter.ItisperhapsthemostcommonnativeMegachile species.Itnestsinthesoilandcanbefoundduringsummerandautumn.Thisspeciesusesleaforflowerclippingstolineitsnests.

Leaf-cutterbeescontinued

53

BeesinthegenusOsmia areknownasmasonbeesbecausetheyusemudandothersimilarsubstancesinnestconstruction.Theyaresmalltomediumsizedwitharobustbuild.Usuallyemergingintheearlyspring,theybuildsolitarynestsinpre-existingundergroundburrows,crevassesinwood,stone,concrete,andknowntooccupyoldsnailshells.Somemason bees,liketheblueorchardbee(Osmialignaria)andthehorn-facedbee(O.cornifrons),areusedcommerciallyintheagriculturalsectoraspollinatorstoenhanceproductionoffruitsandnuts.

KatherineOdanaka

Osmia lignaria

MasonbeesMegachilidaeOsmia

Sabine

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Osmiacornifrons

54

TheblueorchardbeeOsmialignaria isanativespeciesofOsmia.Thismediumsizedbeeisrecognizedbyitsmetallicbluecolourandamixofblackandwhitehairsonthebody.ItisageneralistthroughoutNorthAmericathatoccursinspringandusuallydiesoffbytheendofJune.

MollyJa

cobson

Osmia lignaria

Thehorn-facedbee,O. cornifrons,originallycamefromJapanandwasintroducedinthelate1970’sastoenhancecroppollination.Thisbeehasadarkbodylooselycoveredwithlongredbrowntopalehair.Femalescanberecognizedbyhornlikeprotrusionsonthelowerendoftheirface.

MollyJa

cobson

Osmiacornifrons

Masonbeescontinued

55

CullenFranchino

Hoplitisproducta

ThemasonbeegenusHoplitisisasmalltomediumsizedbeevaryinginsizefrom6-13mm.TheyaresmalleranddarkerincolourationthanOsmia.Likeothermasonbeestheyalsouseamixofsubstratestomakemudpartitionsfornestconstructionortowraptheireggsinaprotectiveenvelope.InterestinglyHoplitis havebeenobservedinnestsbuiltinstemsbysmallcarpenterbees,genusCeratina.Todate,onecanonlyspeculateiftheyco-inhabitorusurpedthenest.Hoplitisbeesareknowntoreturntothesamenesttheywerebornintomaketheirownnests.

MollyJa

cobson

Hoplitits sp.

MasonbeesMegachilidaeHoplitis

56

Althoughmostbeesvisitflowerstocollectpollentoprovisionnestcells,thereareafewgenerawhodonot.Instead,thesethievesrelyonthepollencollectinglabourofotherbees.Calledcuckoobees,orcleptoparasites,thesebeesbehavesimilarlytocuckoobirds,whichlayeggsinthenestsofotherbirdsandforcetheotherbirdtocareforthecuckoobirdoffspring.Cleptoparasitism inbeeshasevolvedatleast27times,eachinadifferentlineageandthislifestyleisfoundacrossthedifferentbeefamilies.Manyofthecuckoobeescomeinstrikingpatternsofredsandyellowsgivingthemaverywaspishlook.Cuckoobeesaremostfrequentlyencounteredhoveringnearthegroundornectaring atflowers.

MollyJa

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Nomada sp.

Cuckoobees parasiticbees

57

Thereareanestimated75speciesofNomadaineasternNorthAmerica.MostofthemparasitizethenestsofAndrena,althoughtherearerecordsofthemusingothergeneraincludingAgapostemon.

MollyJa

cobson

Nomada sp.

Cuckoobees ApidaeNomada

TheNomada areamongthemostcommonlyencounteredofthecuckoobees.Thesebeesaregenerallyhairlessandcomeinavastarrayofredsandyellows.InNorthAmerica,theyaretheonlybeeobservedtobeentirelyredincolour.

©Ch

arleyEiseman;w

ww.charle

yeise

man.com

Nomadasp.

Large aggregationsofAndrena willattractfemaleandmaleNomada. Theycanbeseenhoveringinandnearhostnestsites.

58

MollyJa

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Nomada luteoloides

LikemostNomada,N.luteoloides isdarkbrownandyellowincolour.ItiswidespreadacrosseasternNorthAmerica.Femalescanbeobservedhoveringalongthegroundsearchingforhostnestswhilemalesarecommonlyseennectaring atflowersthroughoutthespring.

Cuckoobees ApidaeNomada andHolcopasites

Holcopasites isastrikinggenusofparasiticbeefromthefamilyApidae.Theyhaveredabdomensandablackthoraxwitharoughtexture.Atonly6mminbodylength,thesebeesareoftenoverlooked.TherearethreespeciesineasternNorthAmericaandoftenparasitisethenestsoftheCalliopsisandotherandrenidbees.

MollyJa

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Holcopasites calliopsidis

59

Triepeolus isanothergenusofparasiticbee.Theyhavebodieswithdistinctivewhitehairpatterns,blackorbrightredlegsandlargebodiesthatmakesthemeasytoidentify.TheyarestrikinglysimilarincolourationandappearancetofellowcleptoparasiticgenusEpeolus.Triepeolus isanestparasiteofsweatbees,NomiaandDieunomia,andeucerine bees,includingmembersofthegenusMelissodes.Thesebeesarefoundduringthesummerandfallmonthsnectaringatavarietyofdifferentflowers.

MollyJa

cobson

Triepeolus nr.donatus

CuckoobeesApidaeTriepeolus

60

ThegenusSphecodes isanothertypeofcuckoobee.Themembersofthisgenusparasitizeothersweatbeespecies,suchasthesmalldarkLasioglossumsweatbees.TheyhavebeenobservedparasitizingspeciesofothergeneraincludingtheminingbeesAndrenaandCalliopsis,andColletes cellophanebees.SomespeciesofSphecodes aresocialparasites.Theparasiticfemalesremaininthenestwiththehost.Littleresearchhasbeendoneonthesebees,andmuchoftheirbiologyisstillamystery.

Sabine

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Sphecodes sp.

CuckoobeesHalictidaeSphecodes

61

Coelioxys isagenusofparasiticbeesthatcanbeidentifiedbytheirextremelypointedabdomen.Thesebeesareusuallyblackwithwhitestripesontheabdomenandsomespecieshaveredlegsandcolourfuleyes.TheyarefoundthroughoutNorthAmerica.ThemostcommonhostsofthisgenusaretheMegachileleaf-cutterbees,buttheyhavealsobeenknowntoparasitizeAnthophora nests.Theirparasitichatchlingsusepowerfuljawstoattackahosteggorlarvaandcutitinhalf.

MollyJa

cobson

Coelioxys octodentatus

CuckoobeesMegachilidaeCoelioxys

Flowersprovideallofthefoodbeesneedtosurvive.Beesobtainproteinfrompollenandsugarfromfloralnectar.Havingadiversityandabundanceofflowersinbloomfromearlyspringthroughautumnisnecessarytoprovideadequatenutritionforbeestofeedthemselvesandtheiroffspring,inadditiontoprovidingnestingsubstrateforsomebeespecies.Inthefollowingpageswehighlightsomenativeandnon-nativeherbaceousflowersthatsupportbees.Plantingnativespeciesisrecommended,butweincludecommonflowersandmanynon-nativesthatarewellestablishedineasternNorthAmerica.Thesearesortedbyseasonalbloomtimeandthenlistedalphabeticallybasedonthecommonname.

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SabineNooten

Floweringplantsforbees

63

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Flowertype:Aradialwhiteflowerwith8-12petalsandyellowcentre

Flower diameter:3cm

Foliage:Asingleleafandfloweroneachstem,leavesbasalsimpleorlobed

Height: 20-50cm

Location:Woodlands

Growthconditions:● Sun- shadeto

partshade● Soil- loam● Moisture-

moist

SpringBloomingPlantsBloodrootSanguinariacanadensis

Beeforagers:CuckoobeesMiningbeesSweatbees

NativetoNorthAmerica

64

Flowertype:Large,flatclustersofvibrantorangeflowerswithfiveuprightpetalsandfivedownwardfacingpetals

Flowerdiameter: 3cm

Foliage:Lance-shapedleavesthatgrowfrom5-12cmalongslender,hairystems

Height:30-100cm

Location:Fields

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- sandy● Moisture– dry

SpringBloomingPlantsButterflyweed Asclepiastuberosa

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCuckoobeesGreenbeesLeaf-cutterbeesMiningbeesResinbeesSweatbees

Sabine

Noo

ten


SpringBloomingPlantsCarolinaspring-beautyClaytoniacaroliniana

65

Flowertype:Fivepalepinkorwhitepetals

Flowerdiameter: 1-2cm

Foliage:singlepairofopposite,simpleleaves

Height:10-30cm

Location:Floodplain,forestedges,forests

Growthconditions:● Sun– partshade● Soil- any● Moisture-

medium

Samue

lFreli;W

ikiped

ia.org

Beeforagers:CuckoobeesGroundbeesMiningbeesSmallcarpenterbeesSweatbees


66

Flowertype:Compositeflowerhead,brightyellow

Flowerdiameter:1-10cm

Foliage:Leavesgrowbasally,longerthanwide,toothedorlobed

Height:5-40cm

Location:disturbedareas,fieldsandmeadows,abundantweed

Growthconditions:● Sun- shadetofull

sun● Soil- sand,loam,

clay● Moisture- medium

Célia

Bordier

SpringBloomingPlantsCommondandelionTaraxacumofficinale

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesHoneybeesMiningbeesSweatbees

Non-native

67

Célia

Bordier

Flowertype:White,five-petaledflowerssurroundingadensegroupofyellowstamens


Foliage:Leavesdividedin3leaflets,coarselytoothed,plantsgrowfromstemsrisingfromrunnersalongtheground

Height:10-20cm

Location:Dry,openspaces,forestedges

Growthconditions:● Sun- partshade

tofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- dry

SpringBloomingPlantsCommonstrawberryFragariavirginiana

Beeforagers:CarpenterbeesCuckoobeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbees


70

Flowertype:Lightpurple,fivepetaledflowersthatgrowinsmallclustersfromasinglestem


Foliage:Slenderbutsturdystemslinedwith8cmlong,oval-shapedleavesandforminginlargegroupsontheforestfloor

Height: 15-25cm

Location:Woodlands

MollyJa

cobson

SpringBloomingPlantsCreepingphloxPhloxstolonifera

Beeforagers:Beeswithlongtonguesincluding-Bumblebees-Leafcutters-Masonbees


partsun● Soil- any● Moisture-

mediumtomoist


69

Sabine

Noo

ten

Flowertype:Denseclustersofbrightyellowflowers

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Coarselytoothedbasalleaveswithalargelobeattheend,upperleavesegg-shaped

Height: 30-60cm

Location:Roadsidesandmeadows,common

Growthconditions:● Sun- shade

tofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture-

medium

SpringBloomingPlantsGardenyellowrocketBarbarea vulgaris

Beeforagers:CellophanebeesCuckoobeesHoneybeesMiningbeesSweatbees

Non-native

70

Height:30-60cm

Location:Prairie,meadow,openwoodlands,pastures

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- sand,loam● Moisture- any

level

FanWen

;Wikiped

ia.org

SpringBloomingPlantsLanceleafcoreopsisCoreopsislanceolata

Flowertype:Rayanddiskflowers;rayflowershavefourlobesattips


Foliage:Multipleerectstems;opposite,sessile,linearoblongleaves


Beeforagers:BumblebeesHoneybeesLong-hornedbees

Flowertype:Blue-purplepeaflowersindense15-45cmcone-shapedterminalclusters

Flowerdiameter:2cm

Foliage:Long,sturdystemwithlong-stalkedcompoundleaveswith12-18oblongleafletsradiatingfromacentralpoint

Height:60-120cm

Location:Fieldsandroadsides

Growthconditions:● Sun- partshade

tofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- any

level

71

DustyDu

rant

SpringBloomingPlantsLarge-leavedlupineLupinuspolyphyllus

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesSweatbeesMasonbeesLeaf-cutterbees


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Noo

ten

Flowertype:Largecompositeflowerwithreddishpurpleraysandanorange-reddisk


Foliage: Erectstem,lowerleavestoothedandegg-shapedonlongstalks

Height: 30-120cm

Location: Openforestsandprairies

Growthconditions:● Sun- partto

fullsun● Soil- sand● Moisture-

dry

SpringBloomingPlantsPurpleConeflowerEchinaceapurpurea

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesDiggerbeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees


73

Célia

Bordier

Flowertype:Whitetopaleblueflowerswithfourfusedpetalssurroundingayellowcentre

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:slenderstem,leavesatbaseoblongintufts,atstemtinyandopposite

Height:5-20cm

Location:Grassymeadows,fields,andopenwoods

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture–

moist

SpringBloomingPlantsQuakerladyHoustoniacaerulea

BeeForagers:Sweatbees


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Noo

ten

Flowertype:Dense,flatclustersofwhiteflowersFlowerdiameter:1cmFoliage: Leavesentire,largeshrubwithred-colouredyoungbranchesHeight:1-4mLocation: Wetplaces,marshesandshorelines

SpringBloomingPlantsRed-osierdogwoodCornussericea

Growthconditions:● Sun- partshade● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

Beeforagers:Miningbees(specialists)AndrenafragilisAndrenaintegraAndrenaperisimulataAndrenaplatyparia


75

Flowertype:Sparseclustersoffive-petaled,purpleflowersontheapicesofstems

Flowerdiameter:3cm

Foliage: Leavesdeeplydividedintotoothedlobesonslenderstems

Height:30-90cm

Location:Woodlandedgesandmoistmeadows


partshade● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

MollyJa

cobson

SpringBloomingPlantsSpottedgeraniumGeranium maculatum

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCuckoobeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbees&aspecialistbee=Andrenadistans


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Noo

ten

Flowertype:Small,long-stalkedclustersofyellowflowerswithfivepetals

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Leavesdividedin3s,similartoclover,longslenderstems,branchingvariablyandmostlyupright

Height:7-38cm

Location:Fields,meadows,andopenwoodlands

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- dry

SpringBloomingPlantsYellowwoodsorrel Oxalisstricta

Beeforagers:CarpenterbeesSweatbees


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Noo

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Flowertype:Brightyellowpeaflowersinterminalumbels

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Slenderstemswithcompoundleaves,3pointyleafletsatthetopand2atthebase

Height:5-50cm


Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- any

level

SummerBloomingPlantsBird’sfoottrefoilLotuscorniculatus

Beeforagers:BumblebeesLeaf-cutterbeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbeesAnthidiumoblongatum(specialist)

Non-native

78

Flowertype:Narrowspikeswithsmalltubularpurpleflowers

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Squarestemswithopposite,simpleleaves

Height:60-150cm

Location:Meadows,woods,prairies,ditches,andpastures

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullor

partialsun● Soil- sand● Moisture- moist

CodyHou

gh;W

ikiped

ia.org

SummerBloomingPlantsBluevervainVerbenahastata

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCuckoobeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees NativetoNorthAmerica

79

Flowertype:Clustersoffive-petaled,brightyellowflowerswithspotsonthemargins

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:simple,oppositeleaves;1-4cmlong

Height:2-6m

Location:riverandlakeshores,swamps,wetlandmargins

Robe

rtH.M

ohlenb

rock;W

ikiped

ia.org

SummerBloomingPlantsCanadianSt.John’swortHypericumcanadense

Growthconditions:● Sun- sun● Soil- wet● Moisture- moist

Beeforagers:BumblebeesSweatbees NativetoNorthAmerica

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Flowertype:Dense,sphericalclustersofpinktopurpleflowerswithfiveupwardandfivedownwardfacingpetals

Flowerdiameter: 1cm

Foliage:Thick,hairystemswithlarge,short-stalkedleavesthatreleaseathickwhitesubstancewhenbroken

Height:60-180cm


Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

SummerBloomingPlantsCommonmilkweedAsclepiassyriaca

Beeforagers:BumblebeesMiningbeesSweatbees


81

DustyDu

rant

Flowertype:Terminalheadsofsmall,dense,brightred-pinkflorets,moreelongatethanotherclover

Flowerdiameter:1-5cmheight

Foliage:Leavestrifoliate,leafletshairywithbilobedapexalonguprightslenderstems

Height:25-50cm

Location:Forestedges,fields,androadsides

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

SummerBloomingPlantsCrimsoncloverTrifoliumincarnatum

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesHoneybeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

Non-native

82

Flowertype:Tightgroupofpinktopurplefloretsattheapex


Foliage:Anerect,hairystemwithmanyspinedwings,leaveslong,alternate,deeplylobed;leavesgreenontopandwhiteunderneath

Height:5-18cm

Location:Colonizesmoisttodrysoils;pastures,oldfields,roadsides,forestedge

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- any

level

GeorgeFM

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SummerBloomingPlantsFieldthistleCirsiumdiscolor

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesLeaf-cutterbeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees


83

Flowertype:Deep,tubular,whiteflowersmadeoftwolips


Foliage:Slenderstemswithlongtaperingleaves,ellipticleavesatbase

Height:90-150cm

Location:Meadows,fields,andforestedges

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofull

sun● Soil- sandand

loam● Moisture- any

level

Sabine

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SummerBloomingPlantsFoxglovebeardtonguePenstemondigitalis

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesDiggerbeesLeaf-cutterbeesMasonbeesSweatbeesWool-carderbees


84

Wikiped

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Flowertype:Dense,small,whiteflowers;two-lippedpetals

Flowerdiameter:2cm

Foliage:Narrow,opposite,simpleleaves;Leaves6cmlong

Height:90cm

Location:Meadows,forestedges,anddisturbedhabitats

Growthconditions:● Sun- partialto

fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- all

SummerBloomingPlantsMountainmintPycnanthemum virginianum

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCuckoobeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbeesNativetoNorthAmerica

85

Flowertype:Flatyellowflowerwithfiveovaltoheart-shapedpetals

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Alternateandcompoundleaves;leaflets5cmlong

Height:30-90cm

Location:fields,roadsides,wasteareas,disturbedsoil

Growthconditions:● Sun- partto

fullsun● Soil- loam● Moisture-

medium

JasonHo

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SummerBloomingPlantsRoughcinquefoilPotentillanorvegica

Beeforagers:BumblebeesMaskedbeesSweatbees


86

Forestand

Kim

Starr;W

ikipeida.org

Flowertype:Yellowflowerswithfiveirregularpetals

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Hairless,multiplestems;alternate,oblongleaves;leaves3-6cmlong

Height:30-60cm

Location:Rivers,ponds,woods,prairies,thickets,roadsides

Growthconditions:● Sun- sun● Soil- sandy● Moisture- moist

SummerBloomingPlantsSensitivepartridgepeaChamaecristanictitans

Beeforagers:BumblebeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbeesNativetoNorthAmerica

87

Flowertype:Fivebroadroundedpetalswithwavyedges;pinktodeeprose;numerousyellowstamens


Foliage:Shrubwithoutpricklesalongitsstems;leavesarealternateandcompound;leafletsare2-4cmlong

Height:1-2m

Location:Woodlandedges,prairie,lakeshores

Growthconditions:● Sun– sun;part

shade● Soil- clay● Moisture-

mediumtodry

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SummerBloomingPlantsSmoothroseRosablanda

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesMaskedbeesMasonbeesSweatbeesNativetoNorthAmerica

88

Flowertype:Orangeflowerswiththreelobedcorolla

Flowerlength:2cm

Foliage:Ovate,alternateleaves,13cmlong

Height:60-150cm

Location:Woodlands,alongrivers,androadsideditches

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

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SummerBloomingPlantsSpottedjewelweedImpatienscapensis

Beeforagers:BumblebeesLongtonguedbees


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89

Flowertype:Pyramidshapedclusters;densepinktorosepurpleflowers

Flowerdiameter:1.5cm

Foliage:Reddishbrown,hairystemslinedwithtoothed,ovateleaves

Height:60-120cm

Location:wetlands;sandymarshes;shorelines

Growthconditions:● Sun– Sun● Soil- loam● Moisture- moist

SummerBloomingPlantsSteeplebushSpiraea tomentosa

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbeesNativetoNorthAmerica

Steven

G.Joh

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90

Flowertype:Compositeflowerwithmanyslender,whitefloretsinaroundhead

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Leavesinleafletsofthreeswithdistinctlight-colouredmarkings

Height:15-60cm

Location:Fields,roadsidesandmeadows

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- clay● Moisture- moist

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SummerBloomingPlantsWhitecloverTrifoliumrepens

Beeforagers:BumblebeesHoneybeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbees Non-native

91

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Flowertype:Smallelongateclustersofwhitetopale-pinkflowerswith5petals

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Finelytoothed,lance-shapedleavesalternatingalongthestem

Height:60-180cm

Location:Wetlandsandfreshwatershorelines

Growthconditions:● Sun- shadetofull

sun● Soil- any● Moisture-

mediumtowet

SummerBloomingPlantsWhitemeadowsweetSpiraeaalba

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesMiningbees


Flowertype:Denseroundedclusterofpurplish-pinktubularflowersaroundagreencentraldisk

Flowerdiameter:4cm

Foliage:Toothed,lance-shapedleaves;oppositealongunbranchedsquarestems

Height:60-90cm

Location:Hillsidesandforestedges

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- medium

todry

92

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AutumnBloomingPlantsWildbergamotMonardafistulosa

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesResinbeesSweatbeesWool-carderbees


93

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Flowertype:Largecompositeflowerwithacone-shaped,blackcentraldisksurroundedbythin,yellowrayflorets


Foliage:Thinlytoothedleavesalongacoarsebristlystem

Height:30-90cm

Location:Openspaces

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- sand● Moisture- any

level

AutumnBloomingPlantsBlack-eyedSusanRudbeckiahirta

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCuckoobeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesSweatbeesAndrenarudbeckia(specialist)NativetoNorthAmerica

94

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Flowertype:Curvedone-sidedclustersofsmallyellowflowersatbranchtips

Flowerdiameter:<1cm

Foliage:Leaveslanceshaped,sharplytoothed,uniforminsize,smoothstemnearthebase,downyabove

Height:30-150cm


Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- medium

todry

AutumnBloomingPlantsCanadagoldenrodSolidagocanadensis

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCellophanebeesCuckoobeesDiggerbeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees


95

D.Gordo

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;Wikiped

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Flowertype:Compositeflowersmadefrommanybrightyellowflorets,onlongstalks,oftenmorethanonecrownperstalk

Flowerdiameter:3cm

Foliage:Simpleandalternateleaves;leavesare2-15cminlength

Height:30-90cm

Location:Fields,beaches,woodsandwoodlandedges


fullsun● Soil- loam● Moisture- moist

AutumnBloomingPlantsCanadahawkweedHieraciumcanadense

Beeforagers:BumblebeesLeaf-cutterbeesSweatbees


96

MollyJa

cobson

Flowertype:Denseclustersofsmall,whiteflowersattheapexofthehighestbranches

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Bristlystemwithlarge,toothedlowerleavesonoppositesidesandconnectedaroundthestem

Height:1-2meters

Location:Openwoodsandprairies

Beeforagers:BumblebeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

AutumnBloomingPlantsCommonbonesetEupatoriumperfoliatum

Growthconditions:● Sun- partshadeto

fullsun● Soil- sandandclay● Moisture-

mediumtomoist


97

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Flowertype:solitarycrownswithmanywedge-shaped,three-toothed,yellowpetalsaroundacentral,knob-shapeddisk


Foliage:Slenderstemswithtoothed,lance-shapedleavescomingoffinwings

Height:30-180cm

Location:Moistmeadowsandshorelines

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- clay● Moisture-

moist

AutumnBloomingPlantsCommonsneezeweedHeleniumautumnale

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesMaskedbeesSweatbees


98

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Flowertype:Compositeflowerwith50-100whiterayfloretsandayellowcentraldisk

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Hairystemwithlanceshaped,toothedhairyleavesthroughoutitslength

Height:30-150cm

Location:Fields,roadsidesanddisturbedareas


sun● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

AutumnBloomingPlantsEasterndaisyfleabaneErigeronannuus

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCuckoobeesLong-hornedbeesMaskedbeesSweatbees


99

Flowertype:40-50purplerayssurroundingayellow-redcentraldisk


Foliage:Lance-shaped,claspedleavessurroundingastemcoveredinbristlyhairs

Height:60-240cm

Location:Fieldsanddampmeadows

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesSweatbees

MollyJa

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AutumnBloomingPlantsNewEnglandAsterAsternovae-angliae

Growthconditions:● Sun– partshade

tofullsun● Soil- sand,loam,

clay● Moisture- moist


100

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Flowertype:Compositeflowerinroundheadswithslender,purpletodarkpinkflorets

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Leavesinleafletsofthreeswithawhite,crescentshape

Height:15-60cm

Location:Fieldsandmeadows

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- loam● Moisture- moist

AutumnBloomingPlantsRedcloverTrifoliumpratense

Beeforagers:BumblebeesHoneybeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbeesNon-native

101

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Flowertype:Compositeflowerwithlong,yellowrayfloretsandacone-shaped,browncentraldisk

Flowerdiameter: 5cm

Foliage:Large,egg-shapedleaveswithlongstalksandcoarseteethoppositeatsmoothstem

Height:60-150cm

Location:Openwoodsandthickets

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- sand● Moisture- moist

AutumnBloomingPlantsSmoothoxeyeHeliopsishelianthoides

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCuckoobeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees


102

Flowertype:Yellowflowersincurvedone-sidedclustersatcentralstemandbranches

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Lance-shaped,lightly-toothedleavesalongagreyanddownystem

Height:60-200cm

Location:Dry,openspaces


sun● Soil- sand,loam,

clay● Moisture- moist

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AutumnBloomingPlantsTallgoldenrodSolidagoaltissima

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesDiggerbeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees


103

Flowertype:Flowerspikeswithlong,irregular,tubularflowers;colourcanbepurple,pink,andoccasionallywhite

Flowerdiameter:1cm

Foliage:Leavesareoppositeandsimplewithtoothededgesandapointedtip;stemsaresquareandcoveredinshorthairs

Height:60-120cm

Location:Woods;alongstreamsandrivers

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

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AutumnBloomingPlantsPurplegianthyssopAgastachescrophulariifolia

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesResinbeesSweatbeesWool-carderbees


HabitatlossThelargestthreatfacingbeesishabitatlossduetothedestructionofnaturallandscapes.Inprotectedandrestoredenvironments,beeshaveaccesstoavarietyofdifferentfloweringplantsthattheycanforageon,anddifferentsubstratesthattheycanusetoconstructnests.

Globally,wehaveseendramaticdeclinesofwildbees.InNorthAmericaalone,eightnativebeeshavebeenplacedontheendangeredspecieslist,sevenofwhicharemaskedbeesfromHawaii.Themostnotable,andonlybeetobefoundincontinentalNorthAmerica,istherustypatchedbumblebee.Formostbeestherearenostatusassessmentsandwehavemuchtolearn.Thereisnotonespecificcauseforwildbeedecline,ratherthedeclineswearewitnessingareacomplexinteractionbetweenmanydifferentfactors.Thesefactorsinclude:

1. Habitatloss2. Climatechange3. Invasivespeciesanddisease

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Bombusterricola

Bee conservation

104

bloom.Ifthetimingisoff,beesmayemergetooearlyortoolateandtheflowerstheyfeedonwillhavealreadyfinishedtheirbloomingcycle.Changesinemergenceofbothflowersandbeesismostdetrimentaltopollenandnectarspecialists.

Humanactivities,suchassubstantialmonoculturesandexpansiveagricultureandurbanization,impactthenaturalenvironmentmakingitdifficultforbeestofindenoughresourcestosurvive.Oneoftheeasiestwaystoreducethelossofwildbeesistoprovidenativefloweringplantsforthemtoforageon.Forotherwayswecanhelpnativebeesflourishcanbefoundinthe“KeepingtheBees”sectionofthisbooklet.

GlobalclimatechangeChangesintemperatureandrainfallcancauseproblemsforbees.Forexample,beesemergeatthesametimethattheirpreferredflowersstartto

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Bombusgriseocollis

105

Introducedspeciesanddisease

Introducedbeeandplantspeciescancausemanyproblems.Non-nativeplantsandpollinatorsmayout-competenativespeciesanddrivewildspeciesawayfromtheirnaturalenvironments.Additionally,introducedspeciesofplantsandanimalsmaybringdiseasesthatcandecimatenativepopulationswhichlackresistancetotheseforeignpathogens.Exoticbeeandplantspeciescanspreadrapidly,outcompetingnativepopulations.

KatherineOdanaka

Theoblongwoolcarderbee(Anthidiumoblongatum)and thebird’sfoottrefoil (Lotuscorniculatus)areboth

introducedspecies.

106

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Beesandotherpollinatorsareessentialforthesurvivalofalmosteveryterrestrialecosystem.ItisestimatedthatthesesmallworkerscontributebillionsofdollarsworthofworktotheagriculturalsectorinNorthAmerica.Therearemanythreatstothesespecies,andmakingsurewedoeverythingwecantoconservethemisvitalfortheirpersistence.Helpingoursix-leggedneighboursisnotjustajobforscientistsandresearchers;everyonecanandshouldgetinvolved.HereweprovideinformationonafewwaysthatyoucansupportthenativebeesofNorthAmerica!

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KeepingtheBees

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grassprovidenofoodforpollinatorsandalsomakethedistancesbetweennestingandforagingareastoolargetosupportsomespeciesofbees.Onewaytohelpsolvethisproblemistoleavea“softedge,”ametreofun-mowedlawnalongtheoutskirtstoallowflowerstobloomandprovidebeeswithafoodsource.

PesticidecontrolHerbicidescankillplantsthatbeescanforageon.Fungicidestargetfungibutarealsoharmfultobees.Insecticidesareusedtokillinsectsandthesechemicalscanalsoaffectthenativebees.Theuseofherbicides,fungicides,andinsecticidesonlawns,gardensandcropsisunhealthyforeverymemberof

MowingChanginglawncarehabitsisoneoftheeasiestwaystosupportlocalbeespecies.Expansive,well-kemptlawnsmightlookappealingtosomelandscapers,butthishurtsthebeecommunityinmultipleways.Largetractsofmowed

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Anexampleofasoftedge

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thecommunity:pollinators,plants,andotheranimals(includinghumans).Pleasedonotuseunlessabsolutelynecessarybecausetheykillinsects,includingbees.BeehotelsAsshowninthisfieldguide,manyofthenativebeespeciesinNorthAmericaconstructtheirnestsinpre-existingcavitiesorburrowintothesoftcentresofdeadwoodmaterials.Abeehotelissimplyacollectionofsuitablesticksforthesebeestocreatetheirnests.Drilledholesinuntreatedwood,stickswithpithycentres,andhollowedsticksofbamboocancreateagreatplaceforavarietyofbeestothrive.Beehotelsthrivewhenplacedinfullsunandprotectedwitharooftokeepthenestsdry.

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Examplesofbeehotels109

Wildflowergardens

Notonlyarewildflowergardensattractivetothehumaneye,theyhelptocreatebuffetsforbees.Especiallyinurbanareaswherefloweringplantscanbefewandfarbetween,patchesofflowerscanhelptomaintainbeepopulations.Someornamentalflowersareunabletobepollinatedbythenativebeepopulations,soitisimportantandmuchmorebeneficialtousewildflowersthatbloomnaturallyinthesurroundingarea.Thesegardensnotonlyprovidesustenance,butcanmakeanemptyspacemuchmorebeautiful.

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Wildflower garden

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Resources

GoBotany.NewEnglandWildflowerSociety,2018.gobotany.newenglandwild.org

HolmH.2014.PollinatorsofNativePlants.PollinationPress.

LadyBirdJohnsonWildflowerCenter.TheUniversityofTexasatAustin,2018.www.wildflower.org/plants/

Newcom L.1977.Newcomb’sWildflowerGuide.Little,BrownandCompany.

PlantsForAFuture.PlantsForAFuture,2012.pfaf.org/user/Default.aspx

WilsonJS&Carril OM.2016.TheBeesInYourBackyard.PrincetonUniversityPress.

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IndexofpollinatorsandwildflowersPollinators

112

Agapostemon 43,57Agapostemon sericus 44Agapostemontexanus 44Agapostemon virescens 6,43Andrena carlini 23Andrena spp. 21,22,36,57,60Andrena vicina 24Andrena wilkella 23Anthidiumspp. 49Anthidium manicatum 49,50Anthidium oblongatum 50,106Anthophora 61Apis 25Apis mellifera 25Augochlora 43Augochlora pura 45Augochlorella 43Augochlorella aurata 46Augochloropsis 43Augochloropsis metallica 46Bandedsweatbee 40Beefly 19Beewolf 17Bicoloredstripedsweatbee 43Blueorchardbee 53,54

113

Bombus 14,26Bombusbimaculatus 27Bombusgriseocollis 27,28,105Bombusimpatiens 27,29Bombusperplexus 30Bombusspp. 14,26Bombusterricola 104Bombyliidae 19Brown-beltedbumblebee 27,28,105Bumblebee 9,11,14,26Calliopsis 58,60Cantharidae 19Cellophanebees 36,60Cerambycidae 20Ceratina calcarata 8,10,12,32Ceratina 32,55Chauliognathus pensylvanicus 19cleptoparasitic bee 7Coelioxys 61Colletes 36,60Colletes inaequalis 37Colletes validus 9,38Commoneasternbumblebee 27,29Crabronidae 17Cuckoobee 21,56Diggerwasp 17Dolichovespula sp. 18

114

EasternCarpenterBee 6Eucera 15,33,35Eucera pruinosa 15,33,35Europeanwoolcarderbee 50Flowerflies 16Greensweatbee 43Halictus 40Halictus confusus 41Halictus ligatus 40,41Halictus rubicundus 42Hemaris diffinis 17Holcopastites 58Honeybee 6,7,14,25Hoplitis 14,55Hornet 18Horn-facedbee 53,54Hummingbirdmoth 17Hylaeus 36,39Hylaeus modestus 39Laphria sp. 20Largecarpenterbee 10,11,31Lasioglossum 47,60Lasioglossum pilosum 15,48Lasioglossum tegulare 47Leaf-cutterbee 10,51,61Locustborer 20Long-hornedbee 33

115

Maskedbee 39Masonbee 53,55Megachile inimica sayi 52Megachile mendica 52Megachile rotundata 51Megachile sp. 5Megacyllene robiniae 20Melissodes 33,59Melissodes bimaculata 33Melissodes trinodis 34Miningbee 11,21,22,60Nomada luteoloides 7,58Nomada spp. 56,57Oblongwoolcarderbee 50,106Orangesunflowerbee 34Osmia 53Osmiacornifrons 10,53,54Osmialignaria 53,54Paperwasp 18Perplexingbumblebee 30Philanthus gibbosus 17Philanthus ventilabris 49Robberfly 20Sandwasp 17Smallcarpenterbee 8,10,32,55Smalldarksweatbee 47Soldierbeetle 19

116

Southernbronzefurrowbee 41

Sphecodes 60

Sphingidae 17

Squashbee 15,35

Sweatbee 11,59,60

Syrphidae 16

Systoechus vulgaris 19

Toxomerus germinatus 16

Triepeolus 59

Triepeolus donatus 59

Two-spottedlong-hornbee 33

Two-spottedbumblebee 27

Vespid wasp 18

Woolcarderbee 49

Xylocopa 31

Xylocopa virginica 11,31

Yellowjacket 18

Wildflowers

117

Agastachescrophulariifolia 103Apple 22Asclepias syriaca 80Asclepias tuberosa 64Asternovae-angliae 99Barbarea vulgaris 69Bird's-foottrefoil 50,77,106Blacklocust 20Black-eyedSusan 93Bloodroot 63Blueberry 30,38Bluevervain 78Butterflyweed 64Canadagoldenrod 94Canadahawkweed 95CanadienSt.John'swort 79Carolinaspringbeauty 65Chamaecrista nictitans 86Cirsiumdiscolor 82Claytoniacariliniana 65Commonboneset 96Commondandelion 66Commonmilkweed 80Commonsneezeweed 97

118

Commonstrawberry 67Coreopsislanceolata 70Cornus sericea 76Creepingphlox 70Crimsonclover 81Easterndaisyfleabane 98Echinaceapurpurea 72Erigeronannuus 98Eupatoriumperfoliatum 96Fieldthistle 82Foxglovebeardtongue 83Fragariavirginiana 67Gardenyellowrocket 69Geraniummaculatum 75Heleniumautumnale 97Helianthusannuus 34Heliopsis helianthoides 101Hieracium canadense 95Houstonia caerulea 73Hypericumcanadense 79Impatienscapensis 88Lanceleaf coreopsis 70Large-leavedlupine 71Liliumsp. 13Lotuscorniculatus 50,77,106Lupinus polyphyllus 71Maluspumila 22

119

Monardafistulosa 14,92Mountainmint 84NewEnglandAster 99Oxalisstricta 76Penstamon digitalis 83Phloxstolonifera 70Potentillanorvegica 85PurpleConeflower 72Purplegianthyssop 103Pycanthemum virginianum 84Quakerlady 73Redclover 100Red-oiser dogwood 74Rosablanda 87Roughcinquefoil 85Rudbeckia hirta 93Sanguinaria canadensis 63Sensitivepartridgepea 86Spottedjewelweed 88Smoothoxeye 5,101Smoothrose 87Solidago altissima 102Solidago canadensis 94Spiraea alba 91Spiraea tomentosa 89Spottedgeranium 75Steeplebush 89

120

Tallgoldenrod 102

Taraxacum officinale 66

Trifolium incarnatum 81

Trifolium pratense 100

Trifolium repens 90

Vacciniumcorymbosum 30,38

Verbana hasta 78

Whiteclover 90

Whitemeadowsweet 91

Wildbergamot 14,92Yellowwoodsorrel 76

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Documents

Wild Bees of Eastern North America - The Rehan Laband require exposed pith from pruning, mowing, burning, or grazing to make nesting sites available. Females tunnel in the pithy stems