Occurrence Status: Possible
Identification: Distinctive, though small and non-descript. Unlikely to be found away from nest aggregations of Macropis.
Distribution: Often called ‘the rarest bee in North America’ this kleptoparasite was thought to be extinct until recently re-discovered in Nova Scotia. It has since been found in New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Michigan. It’s only host are bees in the genus Macropis, which themselves are specialists on Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia). A few historical Vermont records exist for Macropis, and they were found at two additional sites in 2019, so it’s definitely possible that E. pilosula is here.
Banner Photo: USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab
