Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees » Cellophane, Plasterer, Masked, and Allied Bees (Colletidae) » Masked Bees (Hylaeus)
Photo#389392
Masked Bee! - Hylaeus
Copyright © 2010 Arthur Scott Macmillan

Masked Bee! - Hylaeus
Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California, USA
April 26, 2010
Size: 4mm
It seemed like there were a few of these on the flower bush, but at this size its hard to tell for sure if they were the same species.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Arthur Scott Macmillan on 27 April, 2010 - 12:23pm
Last updated 18 June, 2015 - 5:58am

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 27 April, 2010 - 4:03pm login or register to post comments

Bee
Maybe Hylaeus?
… Charley Eiseman, 27 April, 2010 - 2:13pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks for the ID, but...
...Is it just knowledge of this species that leads you to know it is a bee? The only difference that I can think of visually is that a bee is usually fuzzy. This particular bee does not appear very fuzzy...

The other main difference that I know of is the structure of the stinger, and even there I am not sure if this difference is across the board, or applies mainly to Apis mellifera.
… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 27 April, 2010 - 3:59pm login or register to post comments

 
Just looked familiar.
There are certainly some apoid wasps that look similar to this (to my eye), and I guess technically bees are all apoid wasps anyway.
Someone more knowledgeable may have something more helpful to say.
… Charley Eiseman, 27 April, 2010 - 4:06pm login or register to post comments

 
That makes me feel a little bet. Also...
...relevant is this quote from Wikipedia:

The resemblance to wasps is enhanced by the absence of a scopa, which is atypical among bees; Hylaeus carry pollen in the crop, rather than externally, and regurgitate it into the cell where it will be used as larval food...
… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 27 April, 2010 - 4:10pm login or register to post comments

 
Agreed
Generally, I find several on the same bush.
… Ron Hemberger, 27 April, 2010 - 3:00pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact