Pollinator.org

Bumble Bees:

Abandoned mouse nests, other rodent burrows, upside down flower pots, under boards,

and other human-made cavities. Colonies are founded by a queen in the spring and

don’t die out in the fall. New queens mate then and overwinter in a sort of hibernation.

Bumble bees are usually active during the morning hours and forage at colder

temperatures than honey bees, even flying in light rain.

Large carpenter bees:

Soft dead wood, poplar, cottonwood or willow trunks and limbs, structural timbers

including redwood. Depending on the species, there may be one or two brood cycles per

year. These bees can be active all day even in the hottest weather.

Digger bees:

Sandy soil, compacted soils, bank sides. Anthophorid bees (now in the Apidae) are usually

active in the morning hours, but can be seen at other times.

Small carpenter bees:

Pithy stems including roses and blackberry canes. These bees are more active in the

morning but can be found at other times.

Squash and Gourd bees:

Sandy soil, may nest in gardens (where pumpkins, squash and gourds are grown) or

pathways. These bees are early risers and can be found in pumpkin patches before dawn.

Males often sleep in the wilted flowers.

Leafcutter bees:

Pre-existing circular tunnels of various diameters in dead but sound wood created by

emerging beetles, some nest in the ground. Leave dead limbs and trees to support not

just pollinators but other wildlife. Leafcutter bees can be seen foraging throughout the

day even in hot weather.

Mason bees:

Pre-existing tunnels, various diameters in dead wood made by emerging beetles, or

human-made nesting substrates, drilled wood boards, paper soda straws inserted into

cans attached to buildings. Mason bees are generally more active in the morning hours.

Sweat bees:

Bare ground, compacted soil, sunny areas not covered by vegetation. Like most bees,

sweat bees forage for pollen earlier in the morning and then for nectar later.

Plasterer or cellophane bees:

Bare ground, banks or cliffs. Colletid bees can be active in the morning or later in the day.

Yellow-faced bees:

In dead stems. These bees are more active during morning hours.

Andrenid bees:

Sunny, bare ground, sand soil, under leaf litter or in soil in banksides and cliffs. These

generally spring-active bees are most commonly seen on flowers during the morning

when pollen and nectar resources are abundant