Bees, Butterflies, Beneficial Insects

On this page are additional materials for the course located at campus extension called Mitigating pollinator decline with IPM. Also, this page contains materials relevant to a Citizen's Science-like project on pollinators. The images on this page are from BugGuide, Iowa State University and the text is from Heather Holm's book. Heather Holm's book on native plants and pollinators is available to purchase online.

Conserving beneficial insects is everyone's business, from landscapers, to consumers, to state and federal land managers. Listed here are families in the Anthopila (Apoidea). However, there are many species of social and solitary wasps, parasitic wasps, lady beetles, lacewings, dragon flies, mosquitoes, truebugs, and many others that visit flowers for pollen and nectar.

The conservation of beneficial insects, that includes bees, insect predators, parasitic wasps, and butterflies, is an essential part of Integrated Pest management (IPM) programs. IPM promotes multiple tactics to manage pests and to suppress the population size below levels that will damage the plant. IPM tactics include cultural control, sanitation, biological control, using insecticides friendly to beneficial insects, and finally the use of conventional insecticides. IPM recognizes that the few remaining pest insects will support beneficial predators and parasitic wasps. When scouting plants for pest insects, check for populations of both pest and beneficial insects, such as lady beetles and bees. If beneficial insects are present, wait to spray insecticides to see if the beneficial insects control the pest insects or use specific insecticides that only target the pest insect. Do not apply insecticides while plants are in full bloom. If possible avoid beneficial insects by spraying leaves in the evening when bees and lady beetles are not foraging.

There are few systemic insecticides, while there are many systemic herbicides and fungicides.  Systemic, neonicotinoid insecticides are the most widely used insecticides in the world, due to their low mammalian toxicity and the ability of the insecticide to move systemically from soil into the entire plant, including pollen and nectar. Application methods include seed treatments, foliar sprays, soil and trunk drenches, and trunk-injections. Flowers that open after being sprayed with contact insecticides do not contain insecticide residue, while toxicity to pests lasts for 1-3 weeks. However, flowers that open after systemic insecticides are sprayed can contain the insecticide residue for many months in both the leaves and pollen and nectar.

There are six neonicotinoid active ingredients, imidacloprid, dinotefuran, thiamethoxam, and clothianidin, of which acetamiprid and thiacloprid are the least toxic to bees. There is another systemic insecticide, fipronil that is used around structures that is also toxic to bees. You will find these active ingredients listed on the insecticide label in small print. The neonicotinoid class of insecticides is highly toxic to bees and kills bees at around 180 ppb in flower nectar or pollen. However, sublethal doses of neonicotinoid insecticide starting around 10 ppb, causes bees to lose navigation and foraging skills. The longevity and amount of the neonicotinoid in the pollen and nectar will depend on application method, concentration applied, and binding capacity of the soil. More research is needed to determine residual levels from different applications.

The use of neonicotinoid insecticides as trunk injections and soil drenches for ash trees is important to slow the spread of the exotic, invasive Emerald Ash Borer and other invasive pests. As bees do not collect ash pollen in quantities, the risk to bee pollinators is low.  In contrast, the use of neonicotinoid insecticides on flowering garden plants, shrubs and trees, including linden and basswood trees can kill bees and beneficial insects that utilize the flowers for pollen and nectar. It is wise to avoid using systemic neonicotinoid insecticides on flowering plants that bees visit regularly. Instead use spot treatments of contact insecticides.

ID native bees, scroll down to see pictures and information on 6 families of native bees.

1. Family Colletidae

Common name: Cellophane (Polyester) bees, Colletes spp.

• Nest: Ground, often near water, dense aggregations
• Nest soil type: Sand, loamy soil, loam, clay loam
• Nest lining: Dufour's gland secretion of cellophane, brushed on with glossa
• Active: Late spring-summer
• Size: Small – medium, 7 – 15mm (0.3 – 0.6 in)
• Tongue length: Short, 1 – 3 mm (0.4 – 0.12 in ), two lobed
• Color: Black and white banding on abdomen
• Appearance: Hairy head and thorax, Heart – shaped face (strongly converging eves), bi-lobed tongue
• Pollen collection: Scopae, upper hind legs and thorax
• Flight distance:~ 500ft, 150 m

Adult bee	Carrying pollen	Ground nest

2. Family Colletidae

Common name: Yellow-faced bee, Hylaeus spp.

• Nest: Preexisting cavities: stems or twigs
• Nest lining: Cellophane-like material, brushed on with glossa
• Active: Late spring – late summer
• Size: Small, 5 – 7 mm (0.2 – 0.3 in.)
• Tongue length: Short, 1 – 2 mm (0.04 – 0.07 inch)
• Color: Black with yellow markings
• Appearance: Hairless, bi-lobed tongue
• Pollen collection: Crop, No pollen–collecting scopae

Adult bee	Twig nest

3. Family Adrenidae

Common Name: Mining bees, Andrena spp.

• Nest: Ground (sometimes lawns)
• Nest soil type: Sand, sandy loam, silt loam
• Active Spring: - early fall
• Size: Small - medium 7 -15 mm (0.3 - 0.6 in.)
• Tongue length: Short, 2 - 4 mm (0.7 - 0.15 in.)
• Color: Black
• Appearance: Moderately hairy, white to orange hairs, often with bands of hair on abdomen Facial depressions (foveae) between the compound eyes
• Pollen collection: Scopae upper hind legs
• Flight distance: ~ 500 yards, 450 m

Carrying pollen	Ground nest

4. Family Adrenidae

Common name: Mining bees, Calliopsis spp.

• Nest: Ground
• Nest lining: Oil secreted from Dufour’s gland used to waterproof brood cell and cover bee bread
• Active: Late spring - early fall
• Size: Small - medium 7- 9 mm (0.3 - 0.35 in.)
• Color Black, often with yellow or cream markings on the face, legs and thorax
• Appearance: Moderately hairy
• Pollen collection: Scopae hind legs

Adult bee	Carrying pollen

5. Family Halictidae

Common name: Sweat bees Halicitus spp.

• Nest: Ground
• Nest Soil Type: Loamy sand, sandy loam
• Nest lining: Wax-like substance
• Active: Summer
• Size: Small - medium, 2 - 6 mm (0.08 - 0.2 in.)
• Color: Dark gray, black
• Appearance: Pale band hair on outer edge of abdominal segments

Adult bee	Carrying pollen	Ground nest

6. Family Halictidae

Common name: Sweat bees Lasioglossum spp.

• Nest: Ground
• Nest soil type: Silt loam
• Nest lining: Wax-like substance
• Active: Early spring - summer
• Size: Small - medium 3 - 10 mm (0.1 - 0.4 in.)
• Tongue length: Short - medium, 2 -6 mm (0.08 - 0.2 in.)
• Color Dull gray, black, metallic
• Appearance: Often with pale band hair along the base of abdominal segments or uniformly fuzzy (subgenus Dialictus)
• Pollen collection: Scopae hind legs
• Flight Distance: 200 yards, 180 m

Adult	Carrying pollen

7. Family Halictidae

Common name: Green sweat bees, Agapostemon spp.

• Nest: Ground
• Nest Soil Type: Sandy loam
• Active: Late spring - fall
• Size: Small - medium 7 - 15 mm (0.3 - 0.6 in.)
• Tongue length: Short, 2 - 6 mm (0.08 - 0.2 in.)
• Color: Bright green, blue some species with black and white (yellow) abdomen
• Pollen collection: Scopae hind legs

Adult bee	Carrying pollen	Ground nest

8. Family Halictidae

Common name: Cuckoo bees, Sphecodes spp.

• Nest: Cleptoparasite of sweat bees
• Active: Late spring - summer
• Size: Medium 5 - 15 mm (0.2 - 0.6 in.)
• Tongue length: Short, 2 - 3 mm (0.2 - 0.1 in.)
• Color: Black, dark red abdomen (female)
• Appearance: Sparsely haired, coarsely pitted
• Pollen collection: None

Adult bee

9. Family Halictidae Augoclorini tribe

Common name: Sweat bees, Augochlora spp.

• Nest location: Rotting wood, preexisting cavities
• Active: Summer
• Size: Small, 5 - 10 mm (0.2 - 0.4 in)
• Tongue length: Short, 2 -3 mm (0.08 - 0.1 in)
• Color: Bright green or blue-green metallic or brassy
• Appearance: Very sparsely haired
• Pollen collection: Scopae hind legs
• Flight distance: 490 feet, 150 m

Adult bee	Carrying pollen	Wood	Wood

10. Family Halictidae Augoclorini tribe

Common name: Sweat bees, Augochlorella spp.

• Nest: Rotting wood, preexisting cavities
• Active: Summer
• Size: Medium, 4.5 - 8 mm (0.18 - 0.3 in.)
• Tongue length: 2 - 3 mm (0.08 -0.1 in.)
• Color: Golden-green with coppery or red sheen
• Appearance: Sparsely haired
• Pollen collection: Scopae back legs

Adult bee	Carrying pollen

11. Family Megachilidae

Common name: Mason bees, Osmia spp.

• Nest: Preexisting cavities: wood, stems, rock crevices, snail shells, old wasp nests
• Nest Divisions: Mud, leaves, sand, gravel, and woodchips
• Active: Spring – early summer
• Size: Small - medium, 6 - 11 mm (0.2- 0.4 in.)
• Tongue length: Medium - long 7 - 9 mm (0.3 - 0.4 in.)
• Color: Blue, green, metallic, dull appearing black
• Appearance:  Moderately hairy, bulky, large head with mandibles
• Life history: Are called mason bee because they collect mud to line their burrows in stems, old nests, wood, or rocks
• Pollen collection: Abdominal scopae
• Flight distance: ~ 300 feet, 91 m

Adult bee	Gathering mud	Carrying pollen

12. Family Megachilidae

Common name: Leafcutter bees, Megachile spp.

• Nest: Preexisting cavities: wood, stems ground
• Nest divisions: Leaves, petals, resin, and mud
• Active: Early - late summer
• Size: Medium - large 7 -10 mm (0.2 - 0.4 in.)
• Tongue length: Medium- long, 9 - 12mm (0.35 - 0.5 in.)
• Color: Dark gray, black
• Appearance: Female: Pale hair bands (often), large mandibles, broad hear, flattened or upturned abdomen, tapered
• Male: Long hairs on forelegs
• Pollen collection: Abdominal scopae
• Flight distance: 500 yards, 450 m
• Life history: Are called leaf cutter bees as they line their nest with leaves and flowers

Adult bee	Carrying pollen	Nest

13. Family Megachilidae

Common name: Small resin bees, Heriades spp.

• Nest: Preexisting cavities: wood, stems
• Nest Divisions: Resin, sealed with sand, wood fibers, plant fragments
• Active: Late spring - summer
• Size: Small, 5 - 7 mm (0.15 - 0.28 in.)
• Tongue length: Short
• Color: Black, pale abdominal bands
• Appearance: Concave abdomen, pitted surface, short hair
• Pollen collection: Abdominal scopae

Adult bee	Nest

14. Family Megachilidae

Common name: Mason bees Hoplitis spp.

• Nest: Preexisting cavities: pithy stems, wood, old nests in soil or mud nests
• Nest divisions: Chewed leaves, pebbles sand, clay, wood fiber
• Active: Spring - summer
• Size: Small to medium 5 - 15 mm (0. - 0.6 in.)
• Color: Black or metallic (western species)
• Appearance: Slender, robust, hairy face
• Pollen collection: Abdominal scopae

Adult bee

15. Family Megachilidae

Common name: Cuckoo bees, Coelioxys spp.

• Nest: Cleptoparasite of leafcutter bees, lays eggs in other bees' nests.
• Active: Early summer – late fall
• Size:  Medium 12 mm (0.5 in.)
• Tongue length: Short, 4 mm (0.15 in.)
• Color: Dark gray, black
• Appearance: Hair on eyes Female: narrow, tapered abdomen Male: short spines, last abdominal segment
• Pollen collection: None, no nest provisioned

16. Family Megachilidae

Common name: Carder bees, Anthidium spp.

• Nest: Preexisting cavities, soil, wood, stems
• Nest Divisions: Plant hairs and trichomes, resin
• Nest Closure: Wood fibers
• Active: Late spring - summer
• Size: Small - medium, 7 - 15 mm (03 - 0.8 in.)
• Tongue Length: Short, 4 mm (0.15 in.)
• Color: Dark gray, black with yellow/white bands
• Pollen collection: Abdominal scopae

Adult bee	Carrying pollen	Nest

17. Family Apidae

Common name: Bumble bees Bombus spp.

• Nest: Colony (eusocial)
• Nest Location: Rodent holes, leaf piles, ground
• Nest Materials: Wax (nectar pots) leaves (insulation)
• Active: Spring - late fall
• Size: Medium - large 10 - 23 mm (0.4 - 0.9 in.)
• Tongue Length: Medium – long, 4 - 16 mm (0.15 - 0.6 in.)
• Color Black, yellow, white or orange hair, black body
• Appearance: Stout, furry, robust, completely hairy
• Pollen collection: Pollen baskets on hind legs (corbiculae)
• Flight distance: ~ 1 mile, 1.6 km

Adult bee	Carrying pollen	Nest

18. Family Apidae

Common name: Digger bees, Anthophora spp.

• Nest: Ground
• Nest Soil Type: Loam, sandy clay loam
• Nest Lining: Oil
• Active: Spring - summer
• Size: Medium - large, 9 - 15 mm (0.35 - 0.6 in.)
• Tongue Length: Medium - long, 8 - 21 mm (0.3 - 0.8 in)
• Color: Black, pale bands, often yellow markings on face, especially males
• Appearance: Hairy, robust
• Pollen Collection: Long scopae hind legs

Adult bee	Carrying pollen	Nest

19. Family Apidae

Common name: Cuckoo Bees, Namada spp.

• Nest: Cleptoparasite of ground-nesting bees, lays eggs in other bees' nests.
• Active: Early spring -summer
• Size: Small -medium, 2 -15 mm (0.1 - 0.6 in
• Tongue Length: Medium, 4 - 5 mm (0.15 -  0.2 in )
• Color: Black, red, yellow (white) markings
• Appearance: Sparsely hairy, thick antennae, wasp-like
• Pollen Collection: None

Adult bee

20. Family Apidae

Common name: Cuckoo Bees, Treiepeolus spp.

• Nest: Cleptoparasite of digger bees and  Andredids, parassite, lays eggs in other bees' nests.
• Active: Summer
• Size: Medium, 3 - 15 mm (0.1 -  0.2 in)
• Tongue Length: Medium, 4 - 5 mm (0.1 – 0.2 in)
• Color  Black with yellow or white markings
• Appearance: Very short hair, appearing hairless
• Pollen Collection: None

Adult bee

21. Family Apidae

Common name: Small Carpenter Bees, Ceratina spp.

• Nest: Pithy stems, wood
• Vertical or angled nest orientation
• Nest Divisions: Pith and saliva
• Active: Early spring - summer
• Size: Small - medium, 3 - 15 mm (0.1 - 0.6 in)
• Tongue Length: Medium, 5 - 9 mm (0.2 - 0.35 in)
• Color: Blue, black, green, metallic
• Appearance: Cylindrical abdomen, sparsely haired, shiny, often white (or yellow) patch on face
• Pollen Collection: Scopae hind legs
• Flight Distance ~ 200 yd, 180 m

Adult bee	Wood nest

22. Family Apidae

Common name: Long-horned Bees, Melissodes spp.

• Nest: Ground
• Nest Lining: Wax-like substance
• Active: Mid-summer- fall
• Size: Small – medium, 7 - 18 mm (0.3 - 0.7 in)
• Tongue Length: Medium - long
• Appearance: Robust and hairy, often bands on abdomen in the middle of the abdominal segments Males: long antennae
• Pollen Collection: long scopae hind legs

Adult bee	Carrying pollen

23. Family Apidae

Common name: Large Carpenter Bees Xylocopa spp.

• Nest: Excavated with mandibles in wood and plant stems
• Nest Lining: Sawdust (plant stems)
• Active: Mid-summer - fall
• Size: Large13- 30 mm (0.5 - 1.25 in)
• Tongue length: Medium - long
• Color: Black with yellow hairs, bumble bee-like
• Appearance: Robust, hairy thorax, shiny black abdomen
• Pollen Collection: Scopae hind legs
• Flight Distance: ~ 1 mile, 1.6 km

Adult bee	Wood nest

24. Family Apidae

Common name: Honey Bees, Apis mellifera

• Nest: Social, colony
• Nest Location: (besides man-made hives) Tree cavities, tree limbs or branches
• Nest Materials: Wax hexagonal cells
• Active: Early spring - late fall
• Size: Medium, 10-15 mm (0.4 - 0.6 in)
• Tongue Length (Worker):  5 - 8 mm (0.2 -0.3 in)
• Color: Black with golden hairs
• Appearance: Moderately hairy, long abdomen with black or gold stripes, hairy eyes
• Pollen Collection: Pollen baskets hind legs (corbiculae)
• Flight Distance ~ 2 miles, 3.2 km

Adult bee	Carrying pollen	Nest