John White

Cuckoo bees are fascinating kleptoparasitic bees that rely on the nests of other specialist bees to reproduce. Unlike most bees, they do not collect pollen to provision their own nests. Instead, females lay eggs in the nests of host bees such as mason bees, leafcutter bees, and mining bees, where their larvae consume the pollen

Mason bees are gentle, solitary native bees best known for their incredible pollination efficiency and their use of mud to build nest chambers. Active primarily in spring, these bees are among the most effective pollinators of fruit trees and early-blooming plants. Unlike honey bees, mason bees do not live in hives or produce honey —

Cellophane bees are solitary, ground-nesting native bees known for lining their underground nest chambers with a waterproof, cellophane-like secretion. Sometimes called plasterer bees or polyester bees, these quiet pollinators are widespread across North America and are especially active in spring and early summer. Though rarely noticed, they play an important role in supporting native plants

Oil-collecting bees are fascinating specialists that collect floral oils instead of, or in addition to, pollen and nectar. In North America, these bees belong to the genus Macropis, so “oil-collecting bees” typically refers to Macropis species. They use these oils to provision their nests and sometimes in reproduction. These bees rely almost entirely on oil-producing