Short-faced Bees (Genus Dufourea) are represented in New England by two species with specialized diets. The Pickerelweed Shortface (Dufourea novaeangliae) is often abundant on its host plant statewide, while Beebalm Shortface (Dufourea monardae) is so far unrecorded from the state, though should be looked for on Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) which is common in gardens and and meadows in the warmer parts of the state.
Genus Level ID
Both Short-faced Bees in Vermont are medium-small, dark bees. Compared to other small dark genera (i.e. Lasioglossum, Pseudopanurgus) they are generally hairy with longer antenna. They are unlikely to be found far from their host plants, though male Pickerelweed Shortface have been netted off other flowers at the edges of wetlands with Pickerelweed.
