Bee of the Week -
Hylaeus
bees
Family - Colletidae
Scientific Name-
Hylaeus
spp
.
Hylaeus
spp. are known as yellow-faced bees because of the yellow marks on their face and legs. There are 700 species of
Hylaeus
in the world, and 16 of those species are found in Colorado.
Hylaeus
spp. are unique because they don't have any pollen-collecting hairs like most bees.
At first glance, they almost look like wasps. Unlike other bees, the females feed on pollen and nectar and then regurgitate it at the nest site for the future young. They are
solitary bees nesting in holes already created by other insects or inside twigs. Most of the species are found in forest ecosystems but are also found in urban areas.
Besides the rusty patched bumble bee, the only other bees listed on the endangered species list are seven species of
Hylaeus
only found in Hawaii. They were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 2016. Hawaii has over 60
Hylaeus
species, but these seven species have small habitat ranges. With habitat loss, climate change, and a small habitat range, researchers believe other
Hylaeus
species have already gone extinct.
Photo: MaLisa Spring
