SHARP-EATMAN
NATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY
INDEX
Of Bees Appearing in this Website
Honey Bee
NOTE
on Bee Classifications
Bees belong to the class Insecta, the order Hymenoptera and the superfamily Apoidea. Bees are further divided into families, six of which reside in the United States:
Family Andrenidae – Mining Bees
Family Apidae – Honey, Bumble, Carpenter,
Long-horned, Digger and some Cuckoo Bees
Family Colletidae - Plasterer and Masked Bees
Family Halictidae - Sweat Bees and
Sphecodes Bees
Family Megachilidae - Mason, Resin, Carder,
Leafcutter and Cuckoo Leafcutter Bees
Family Melittidae - Melittid Bees
From July, 2014 through July, 2017, more than 100 species of bees representing the first five of these families were documented and photographed in Rockefeller State Park Preserve and Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture. Many of these species have been categorized as rare, uncommon or in decline in New York State.
Rockefeller Park and Stone Barns contain many additional species not listed here. There are, for example, approximately 50 Andrena mining bee species in the immediate region, and 160 species of the sweat bee genus Lasioglossum in New York.
Samplings of representative Andrena and Lasioglossum bees appear in this guide, but any effort to show them all would require the use of hair-splitting taxonomies and the aid of a microscope. Accordingly, in the case of such bee genera that contain multiple very similar species, we have chosen to showcase those species that are visibly unique.
Documenting bees at Rockefeller Park and Stone Barns is an ongoing project. As new bees are discovered in 2017 and spring, 2018, this guide will continue to expand.
* In late summer of 2017, this website began the process of supplementing its Bee Guide with local New York species that have not yet been formally documented in the preserve or Stone Barns. These species are marked here with an asterisk. Please contact the authors if you sight these species in the park or Stone Barns -- or any other species not noted in the guide.
Ligated Sweat Bee
LIST OF SPECIES BY LATIN NAME
Family Andrenidae
Andrena (Andrena) milwaukeensis
Andrena (Callandrena sensu lato)
placata/simplex
Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta
Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula
Andrena (Conandrena) bradleyi
Andrena (Larandrena) miserabilis
Andrena (Leucandrena) barbilabris
Andrena (Melandrena confederata
Andrena (Holandrena) cressonii
Andrena (Melandrena) carlini
Andrena (Melandrena) dunningi
Andrena (Melandrena) pruni
Andrena (Melandrena) vicina
Andrena (Plastandrena) crataegi
Andrena (Ptilandrena) erigeniae
Andrena (Scrapteropsis) alleghaniensis
Andrena (Simandrena) nasonii
Andrena (Taeniandrena) wilkella
Andrena (Trachandrena) forbesii
Andrena (Trachandrena) rugosa
Calliopsis andreniformis
Perdita octomaculata
Family Apidae
Anthophora (Clisodon) terminalis
Anthophora (Melea) abrupta
Apis (Apis) mellifera
Bombus (Cullumanobombus) griseocollis
Bombus (Pyrobombus) bimaculatus
Bombus (Pyrobombus) impatiens
Bombus (Pyrobombus) perplexus
Bombus (Pyrobombus) vagans
Bombus (Thoracobombus) fervidus
Ceratina (Zadontomerus) calcarata
Ceratina (Zadontomerus) strenua
Epeolus bifasciatus
Melissodes (Eumelissodes) agilis
Melissodes (Eumelissodes) denticulatus
Melissodes (Eumelissodes) subillatus
Melissodes (Eumelissodes) trinodis
Melissodes (Heliomelissodes) desponsa
Melissodes (Melissodes) bimaculatus
Nomada articulata
Nomada bella
Nomada gracilis
Nomada luteoloides
Nomada maculata
Nomada vicina
Peponapis pruinosa
Triepeolus donatus *
Triepeolus remigatus
Xylocopa (Xylocopoides) virginica virginica
Family Colletidae
Colletes compactus
Colletes inaequalis
Colletes latitarsis
Colletes simulans armatus
Colletes thoracicus
Hylaeus (Hylaeus) leptocephalus
Hylaeus (Hylaeus) mesillae*
Hylaeus (Prosopis) modestus modestus
Family Halictidae
Agapostemon (Agapostemon) sericeus
Agapostemon (Agapostemon) virescens
Augochlora (Augochlora) pura
Augochlorella (Augochlorella) aurata
Augochloropsis (Augochloropsis) metallica
Halictus (Seladonia) confusus
Halictus (Odontalictus) ligatus
Halictus (Protohalictus) rubicundus
Lasioglossum (Dialictus) pilosum
Lasioglossum (Dialictus) resembling true
Lasioglossum versatum=rohweri
Lasioglossum (Dialictus) tegulare
Lasioglossum (Evylaeus sensu lato) sp.
Lasioglossum (Lasioglssum sensu McGinley,
1986) coriaceum
Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) quebecense
Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) oenothera
Sphecodes heraclei
Sphecodes johhnsonii
Sphecodes mandibularis*
Sphecodes ranunculi
Family Megachilidae
Anthidium (Anthidium) manicatum
Anthidium (Proanthidum) oblongatum
Chelostoma (Prochelostoma) philadelphi
Coelioxys (Boreocoelioxys) octodentatus
Coelioxys (Boreocoelioxys) porterae
Coelioxys (Boreocoelioxys) sayi
Coelioxys (Cyrtocoelioxys ) modestus
Coelioxys (Synocoelioxys) sp.
Coelioxys (Xerocoelioxys) immaculatus
Heriades carinata
Heriades leavitti / variolosa
Hoplitis (Alcidamea sensu strictu) sp.
Megachile (Callomegachile) sculpturalis
Megachile (Chelostomides) campanulae
Megachile (Eutricharaea) rotundata
Megachile (Litomegachile) brevis *
Megachile (Litomegachile) mendica
Megachile (Litomegachile) texana *
Megachile (Megachile) montivaga
Megachile (Megachile) relativa
Megachile (Sayapis) frugalis
Megachile (Sayapis) inimica
Megachile (Sayapis) pugnata pugnata
Megachile (Xanthosarus) addenda
Megachile (Xanthosarus) frigida
Megachile (Xanthosarus) gemula
Megachile (Xanthosarus) (mucida
or mealanophaea)
Osmia (Helicosmia) georgica
Osmia (Melanosmia) bucephala
Osmia (Melanosmia) pumila
Osmia (Osmia) cornifrons
Osmia (Osmia) taurus
Stelis (Dolichostelis) louisae
Brown-belted Bumble Bee (Bombus griseocollis)
Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens)
Golden Northern Bumble Bee (Bombus fervidus)
Half-black Bumble Bee (Bombus vagans)
Perplexing Bumble Bee (Bombus perplexus)
Two-spotted Bumble Bee (Bombus bimaculatus)
Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica virginica)
Nimble Small Carpenter Bee (Ceratina strenua)
Spurred Small Carpenter Bee (Ceratina calcarata)
Armed Cellophane Bee (Colletes simulans armatus)
Broad-footed Cellophane Bee (Colletes latitarsis)
Compact Cellophane Bee (Colletes compactus)
Thoracic Cellophane Bee (Colletes thoracicus)
Unequal Cellophane Bee (Colletes inaequalis)
DIGGER BEES
Anthophora abrupta Digger Bee (Anthophora abrupta)
Anthophora terminalis Digger Bee (Anthophora terminalis)
EPEOLUS (CUCKOO) BEE
Two-banded Epeolus Cuckoo Bee (Epeolus bifasciatus)
HONEY BEE
European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee (Megachile rotundata)
Bellflower Resin Bee (Megachile campanulae)
Black and Gray / Blueberry Leafcutter Bee (Megachile melanophaea / mucida)
Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee (Megachile mendica)
Frigid Leafcutter Bee (Megachile frigida)
Frugal Leafcutter Bee (Megachile frugalis)
Giant Resin Bee (Megachile sculpturalis)
Hostile Leafcutter Bee (Megachile inimica)
Megachile addenda Leafcutter Bee (Megachile addenda)
Pugnacious Leafcutter Bee (Megachile pugnata pugnata)
Relative Leafcutter Bee (Megachile relativa)
Silver-tailed Petal-cutter Bee (Megachile montivaga)
Small-handed Leafcutter Bee (Megachile gemula)
Texas Leafcutter Bee (Megachile texana) *
LEAFCUTTER CUCKOO BEES
Eight-toothed Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee (Coelioxys sayi)
Immaculate Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee (Coelioxys immaculatus)
Modest Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee (Coelioxys modestus)
Porter's Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee (Coelioxys porterae)
Say's Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee (Coelioxys sayi)
Synocoelioxys Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee (Coelioxys Subgenus Synocoelioxys sp.)
Agile Long-horned Bee (Melissodes agilis)
Melissodes denticulata Long-horned Bee (Melissodes denticulatus)
Melissodes subillata Long-horned Bee (Melissodes subillatus)
Melissodes trinodis Long-horned Bee (Melissodes trinodis)
Thistle Long-horned Bee (Melissodes desponsa)
Two-spotted Long-horned Bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)
Mesilla Masked Bee (Hylaeus mesillae)*
Modest Masked Bee (Hylaeus modestus modestus)
Slender-faced Masked Bee (Hylaeus leptocephalus)
MASON BEES
Bufflehead Mason Bee (Osmia bucephala)
Bull Mason Bee (Osmia taurus)
Hoplitis Mason Bee (Hoplitis Subgenus Alcidamea sensu strictu sp.)
Hornfaced Bee (Osmia cornifrons)
Mock Orange Chelostoma (Chelostoma philadelphi)
Osmia georgica Mason Bee (Osmia georgica)
Osmia pumila Mason Bee (Osmia pumila)
Alleghany Andrena (Andrena (Scrapteropsis) alleghaniensis)
Bradley's Andrena (Andrena (Conandrena) bradleyi)
Carlin's Mining Bee (Andrena (Melandrena) carlini)
Cloudy-winged Mining Bee (Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula)
Confederate Mining Bee (Andrena (Melandrena) confederata)
Cresson's Mining Bee (Andrena (Holandrena) cressonii)
Dunning's Mining Bee (Andrena (Melandrena) dunningi)
Forbes' Mining Bee (Andrena (Trachandrena) forbesii)
Hairy-banded Mining Bee Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta)
Hawthorn Mining Bee (Andrena (Plastandrena) crataegi)
Long-lipped Mining Bee (Andrena (Leucandrena) barbilabris)
Milwaukee Mining Bee (Andrena (Andrena) milwaukeensis)
Miserable Mining Bee (Andrena (Larandrena) miserabilis)
Nason's Mining Bee (Andrena ( Simandrena ) nasonii)
Neighborly Mining Bee (Andrena (Melandrena) vicina)
Placid or Simple Andrena (Andrena (Callandrena sensu lato) placata/simplex)
Plum Andrena (Andrena (Melandrena) pruni)
Rugose Andrena (Andrena (Trachandrena) rugosa)
Spring Beauty Mining Bee (Andrena (Ptilandrena) erigeniae)
Wilke's Andrena (Andrena (Taeniandrena) wilkella)
Eastern Miner Bee (Calliopsis andrenaformis)
Eight-spotted Perdita (Perdita octomaculata)
Articulated Nomad Bee (Nomada articulata)
Beautiful Nomad Bee (Nomada bella)
Neighborly Nomad Bee (Nomada vicina)
Slender Nomad Bee (Nomada gracilis)
Spotted Nomad Bee (Nomada maculata)
Yelllow Nomad Bee (Nomada luteoloides)
Heriades carinata Resin Bee (Heriades carinata)
Heriades leavitti / variolosa Resin Bee (Heriades leavitti / variolosa)
Buttercup Sphecodes (Sphecodes ranunculi)
Hercules Sphecodes (Sphecodes heraclei)
Johnson's Sphecodes (Sphecodes johnsonii)
Mandibular Sphecodes (Sphecodes mandibularis)*
Hoary Squash Bee (Peponapis pruinosa)
Stelis louisae Cuckoo Bee (Stelis louisae)
SWEAT BEES - Green Metallic Sweat Bees
Pure Green Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura)
Golden Sweat Bee (Augochlorella aurata)
Green Metallic Sweat Bee (Augochloropsis metallica)
Bi-colored Agapostemon (Agapostemon virescens)
Silky Agapostemon (Agapostemon sericeus)
SWEAT BEES - Striped Halictus Sweat Bees
Confusing Furrow Bee (Halictus confusus)
Orange-legged Furrow Bee (Halictus rubicundus)
Ligated Furrow Bee (Halictus ligatus)
SWEAT BEES - Striped, Datk & Metallic Lasioglossum Sweat Bees
Epaulette Metallic Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum tegulare)
Evening Primrose Lasioglossum (Lasioglossum oenothera)
Experienced Lasioglossum (Lasioglossum versatum)
Hairy Lasioglossum (Lasioglossum pilosum)
Lasioglossum (Evylaeus) Dark Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum Subgenus
Evylaeus sensu lato) sp.
Leathery Lasioglossum (Lasioglossum coriaceum)
Quebec Lasioglossum (Lasioglossum quebecense)
Squash Longhorn Cuckoo Bee (Triepeolus remigatus)
European Woolcarder Bee (Anthidium manicatum)
Oblong Woolcarder Bee (Anthidium oblongatum)
* Found in general region, but not yet documented in RSPP or Stone Barns.
Please report sightings.
All Photos & text Copyright 2014-2017 Paula Sharp & Ross Eatman. For use of photos, see Permissions.