Colletidae: Polyester and Yellow-Faced Bees

categories: Bees Colletidae Pollinators

last review date: 2026-04-26 08:14

Biology

Bees in the family Colletidae are varied in appearance and have few common features except a two-lobed tip of their tongue.

Polyester or Plasterer bees are named for their method of smoothing and protecting the walls of their nest cells with secretions applied from their mouthparts that dry to a cellophane-like substance. This allows them to nest in areas with moist soils and locations subject to seasonal flooding like stream banks.

They are solitary nesters but some species nest in large aggregations. These slender, hairy bees vary greatly in size (0.3-0.6 inches) and are often seen with great amounts of pollen on their rear legs. Polyester bees usually have white or pale stripes on their abdomen and a heart-shaped face. The head and thorax is moderately hairy.

Yellow-faced bees are slender, hairless, small (0.2-0.3 inches) bees that resemble wasps. They are black with small bright yellow markings on the face, thorax and legs.

They are solitary nesters usually in existing tunnels in wood, stems or twigs. Nests are lined with a silk-like substance that provides water proofing. These bees have no pollen collecting structures, instead they store nectar and pollen in their crop and regurgitate to provide for developing larvae.

Attracting and Keeping Natural Enemies and Pollinators in Your Yard and Garden

• Avoid regular use of synthetic, broad-spectrum pesticides.
• Infrequent use of certain narrow-spectrum pesticides is more compatible with some beneficials but generally the less chemical inputs there are, the greater and more diverse the beneficial insect community will be.
• Extensive lawns are also not conducive to attracting and retaining a diversity of beneficial insects, mites and spiders. Minimize lawn areas and maximize shrub and bush plantings.
• Many beneficials reside naturally in riparian and other ‘natural’ areas near to many back yards. Natural dispersion from these refuges ensures that some beneficials will visit back yards but they will not stay unless food, host and shelter resources are available.
• Native plants have closer affinities with native insects and therefore provide most of these resources. A garden with a good diversity of local native flora in and around back yards, will improve the abundance and diversity of local, beneficial arthropods.
• Native flora also provides natural overwintering sites for many beneficial insects and it is useful to leave at least a small area of native vegetation undisturbed during fall and winter.
• Some kinds of beneficial insects (e.g. lady beetles, lacewings, predatory mites) are available for purchase from commercial suppliers. However, benefits from introducing these beneficials are usually limited and short-lived. Upon release, commercially obtained lady beetles and lacewings often disperse and may rapidly leave your backyard despite the presence of prey and suitable nectar resources. Generally, it is more effective and sustainable to create a garden habitat that will be colonized by beneficials naturally.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• None recommended