Are you interested in finding a new state record? Most of the species below have never been document to occur in Vermont, but based off records from nearby states and/or the occurrence of suitable habitat in Vermont, we believe many of these bees are here. Most of them are identifiable from photographs and can be targeted during specific time windows on their preferred plant or habitat.
Spring (March – May)
Wellesley Miner Bee (Andrena wellesleyana)
A willow associated spring Mining Bee found close to sandy areas in Massachusetts, but not yet in Vermont. Males have yellow on both the clypeus and adjacent areas of the face. Photo Courtesy Michael Veit
Blueberry Cellophane Bee (Colletes validus)
A sand nesting bee found on blueberries and related flowers. Photo Courtesy Michael Veit.
Andrena uvulariae
A tiny mining bee associated with Bellworts (Genus Uvularia), within which they can very hard to notice. Males have a yellow clypeus. Photo Courtesy Michael Veit
Rufous-backed Cellophane Bee (Colletes thoracicus)
A large spring Cellophane Bee, found from Massachusetts south. If it occurs in Vermont its probably limited to warm, sandy areas. Females have distinctive rufous hair on their abdomen. Image courtesy Katja Schulz.
Blueberry Digger (Habropoda laboriosa)
A relatively large, southern bee with a strong preference for blueberries and redbud (Genus Cercis). Could easily be mistaken for a worker bumblebee. Photo Courtesy Michael Veit
Blunt-Horn Bees (Genus Melitta)
Three species in the genus could occur in Vermont. Look for them on Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), He-Huckleberry (Lyonia ligustrina), and cranberry. Photo Courtesy Michael Veit
Summer (June and July)
Loosestrife Bees (Genus Macropis)
Specialists on the Loosestrife (Lysimachia). Despite the host plants being relatively common and widespread, this is among the rarest of bee genera. Three species are likely in Vermont, but many hours of targeted search has only turned up a few individuals.
Epeoloides pilosulus
Once thought to be extinct, this bizarre-looking cleptoparasite was recently found in several New England states and likely occurs in VT. Look for it in late June on Dogbane near Loosestrife Bees (its host). Image Courtesy Michael Veit.
Blunt-Horn Bees (Melitta)
The He-Huckleberry and Cranberry specialists are active in June and July. Photo Courtesy Michael Veit.
Rugose-fronted Resin Bee (Megachile rugifrons)
One of the biggest surprises from the Vermont Wild Bee Atlas. Previously, the nearest records of this poorly known prairie specie were from western New York. Found in the Champlain Valley in 1995 and 2019. The long, slender mandibles and large forehead are distinctive.
Louisiana Painted-Dark Bee (Stelis louisae)
This brightly-colored species is a parasite of the widespread Bellflower Resin Bee (Megachile campanulae). Look for both near bell flowers in gardens.
Fall (August – October)
Yellow-faced Miner Bee (Andrena aliciae)
A large and distinctive sunflower specialist. Both males and females have yellow on the clypeus. Photo courtesy Michael Veit.
Bounded Cuckoo Nomad Bee (Nomada vincta)
This colorful nomad could be easily overlooked as a wasp. It is a cleptoparasite of Andrena helianthi and/or A. aliciae, and is most likely on sunflowers near one of its potential hosts. Photo courtesy Molly Jacobson.
