Small carpenter bees are generalist pollinators, meaning they are good at pollinating many flowers. (b) A dorsal view of the abdomen and wings of a large carpenter bee female. (a) A large carpenter bee female ( Xylocopa sp.) Photo by Joseph Wilson, Utah State University. Seasonal activity: May-September, peak activity is in July.įigure 7. It is usually the last male to mate with her that fertilizes the eggs. Females allow multiple males to mate with them multiple times for them to gain access to the best nectar sources, i.e., males exclude access to flowers in their territory unless the visiting bee is a potential mate. Nesting behavior: Wool carder bees get their name from the female’s behavior of collecting woolly plant hairs, such as lamb’s ear, to build their nest. They also carry pollen on their underbelly, see figure 6b. Wool carder bees can be distinguished from wasps by their stocky shape and hair. Key features: They are a mid-sized bee (½ inch) but have yellow and black abdominal stripes that resemble wasps as seen in Figure 6a. Male wool carder bees are territorial, often attacking other bees to defend their favorite patch of flowers. (b) Two female mason bees ( Osmia sp.) building nests in an artificial nest block. (a) Female mason bee (O smia sp.) foraging for pollen and nectar. Seasonal activity: March–June, with peak activity in April.įigure 5. An example of a mud-capped nest entrance can be seen in Figure 5b. Nesting behavior: Nesting sites are found in wood-often beetle holes. The blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria, is deep metallic blue and carries pollen on its underbelly. In Figure 5a, a female mason bee can be seen foraging for pollen and nectar. Key features: Small to large bees (¼–¾ inch) that are robust with wide bodies and heads. Mason bees, or orchard bees, are exceptionally good at pollinating fruit trees. Photo by Joseph Wilson, Utah State University. (b) A female leafcutter bee ( Megachile sp.) note the pollen packed hairs (scopa) on underside of the abdomen. Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University,. Several open nest cavities and four sealed nests are also pictured. (a) A Female leafcutter bee ( Megachile sp.) is photographed resting on a human-made nest block. Seasonal activity: April–October, with peak activity in July.įigure 4. Females divide the nest into cells and stack them toward the entrance. Female leafcutter bees line the nest cavity with circular leaf fragments that they cut from surrounding vegetation. Nesting behavior: Nesting sites are built in existing holes of many materials, such as soil, trees, plant stems, and artificial materials (referenced in Figure 4a). They carry pollen on their underbelly rather than on their hind legs (see Figure 4b). The females have black, slick bodies with stripes. Key features: Small to medium in size (¼–½ inch). Leafcutter bees are important pollinators of legumes, such as alfalfa, clovers, and lupines. The leaf cuttings do not harm the plant but may affect the plant’s overall appearance. Leafcutter bees cut circular pieces from leaves which they use to line nest cavities as seen in Figure 3a. (b) Leaf lining of a nest cell extracted from a wood nest cavity. Photo by Kimberly Steinmenn, University of California,. (a) Leaf damage caused by female leafcutter bee. Male bees are usually smaller than females, have longer antennae, lack a stinger, and often have white or yellow facial hair.įigure 3. Male bee anatomy is similar to that of females with a few differences. Familiarity with bee anatomy described in this document will give novice bee enthusiasts the experience needed to transition to more technical guides. Pollen-carrying hairs (scopa) on the abdomen or hind legs (females only).įigures 1a and 1b show basic female bee anatomy.The following characteristics can distinguish bees from other insects: It can be difficult to distinguish bees from other insects (including bee mimics) that are very similar in appearance. This fact sheet highlights the different bee species that you may see in Utah. Bees can also be appreciated for their striking diversity in color and size. Specifically, bees are key to a sustainable environment as they are essential pollinators of food and fiber crops. There are many reasons for appreciating bees and encouraging their presence in the landscape. Southern Utah alone has approximately the same number of bee species as the entire eastern U.S. Over 1,000 species of native bees exist in Utah (Cane, 2015). Utah is a superb place for beginning bee enthusiasts.
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