North America is home to over 4000 species of

native bees. Most of these are solitary species

that nest in burrows underground or in tunnels
in dead twigs and stems. Bees are some of the
most important pollinators for our native plant
species, making them indispensable players in
the proper functioning of our ecosystems.

Row 1: Megachile occidentalis ♀ (Resin bee), Ceratina pacifica ♂

All bee specimens photographed in this poster were
(Small carpenter bee), Ericrocis lata ♀ (Cuckoo bee), Xylocopa collected in San Diego County as part of the San
varipuncta ♀ (Valley carpenter bee). Diego Native Bee Inventory Project led by
Row 2: Osmia aglaia ♀ (Mason bee), Anthophorula torticornis ♂
Dr. Keng-Lou James Hung. James also studied how
(Digger bee), Hylaeus mesillae ♂ (Yellow-masked bee),
Lasioglossum brunneiventre ♀ (Small sweat bee), Agapostemon the loss of pollinator diversity impacts the
texanus ♂ (Ultra-green sweat bee). reproduction of plant species in San Diego’s scrub
Row 3: Halictus ligatus ♀ (Small sweat bee), Calliopsis rhodophila ♀ ecosystems. For more information
(Mining bee), Perdita rhois ♂ (Mining bee), Lithurgopsis apicalis ♀
(Leafcutter bee), Stelis laticincta ♀ (Cuckoo bee). about the biology and diversity of
Row 4: Diadasia rinconis ♂ (Cactus chimney bee), Dioxys producta ♀ San Diego County’s native bees,
(Cuckoo bee), Trachusa bequaerti ♂ (Resin bee), Colletes slevini ♀ visit James’s webpage at http://
(Cellophane bee), Bombus californicus ♀ (California bumble bee).
Row 5: Andrena cerasifolii ♀ (Mining bee), Hoplitis jacintana ♀ (Mason sdnativebees.tumblr.com/.
bee), Augochlorella pomoniella ♀ (Peridot bee).
© K. James Hung, Susan Hung & Shelley Glenn Lee 2019