Independence Day is right around the corner, and what could be more independent than a native solitary bee?
Approximately 90% of the roughly 3,600 native bee species in North America are solitary, meaning each female bee constructs and provisions her own nest without assistance. These hard-working moms range in size from the tiny Perdita minima (smaller than a speck of glitter) to the comparatively Rubenesque carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica). Not restricted to classic yellow and black, these bees model a color palette that includes metallic green, blue, copper and gold.
When it comes to pollination, this large and diverse group includes both specialist and generalist foragers. In Pennsylvania, squash bees (Eucera pruinosa) are a notable example of a specialist, collecting pollen only from squash and pumpkin flowers. Mason bees (Osmia lignaria) are generalists; while they prefer orchard crops, they take full advantage of any available floral resources, visiting many different families of plants.
So as you celebrate this week, spare a thought for the unseen multitudes of industrious, independent little friends that play a vital role in keeping our ecosystem humming!
Photo: Osmia lignaria, © Heather Holm
