500 Bee Species are Thriving in this Small Patch of Arizona Desert

There are about 20,000 species of bee known on earth, and a surprisingly large number of them inhabit the San Bernardino Valley in southern Arizona, along the US-Mexico border.

A world record for bee diversity, here are some of the most unique bees that make this patch of desert their home.

October 19, 2021

By: Tatum Lenberg

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Green Sweat Bee

Green Sweat Bees, known for their unique color, are named after their attraction to human sweat. They use the salt in sweat for nutrition.

Leafcutter Bee

Leafcutter bees are an important pollinator in North America. Using cut leaves (pictured above), these bees construct nests in cavities in rotting wood. They are important pollinators of wildflowers, fruits, vegetables, and even commercial crops like alfalfa and blueberries.

Chimney Bee

Chimney bees are solitary ground nesters, meaning females build their nests in soil. These communal bees live in sprawling subdivisions containing hundreds, sometimes thousands, of nests. They aren't defensive or aggressive.

Augochlorella aurata

Augochlorella aurata is another species of sweat bee, with a metallic sheen to its unusual green color. Commonly called the golden green sweat bee, they are 5-7 mm in length.

Osmia Rufa

Osmia Rufa is a species of Mason bee. Known for its dense ginger hair, these bees nest in holes or stems and forage for pollen from a variety of flowering plants.

Valley Carpenter Bee

Xylocopa sonorina, more commonly known as the Valley Carpenter Bee, is found from Texas to California. Females are black (pictured), while males are a golden-brown color with green eyes.

Miner Bee

Andrena, or the mining bee, has over 1,300 species. These solitary bees like to establish their homes in well-drained soil. They are often mistaken for bumble bees because of their yellow and black color, but are actually smaller.