Okay, for #WorldBeeDay, for real, my happiest bee discovery this year was seeing and learning about cellophane bees, _Colletes_.

 https://inaturalist.ca/observations/155849301

#insects #bees #Hymenoptera #Anthophila #Colletes #NativeBees

It's a warm, sunny day after soaking rains eartlier this week. That means it's time for my cellophane bees to emerge in force!

This is my 16th year of observing this population in my garden. I'm always excited to see "my little bees".

Here's my blog post from the first year I noticed them, in 2008.

https://www.flatbushgardener.com/2008/05/27/colletes-thoracicus-colletidae-cellophane-bees/

#Bees #Anthophila #CellophaneBees #SolitaryBees #Colletes #GroundNestingBees

The bees are back! Spring is here in MN.

Though, it was 87 degrees today. Not ideal.

Pictured are a male Colletes inaequalis and a female Andrena digging a nest burrow.

#bees #Colletes #Andrena