The Micro-Wasps Categories: All Insects Micro-Wasps Pollinators Wasps Last review date: 2026-04-29 10:09 Micro-wasps feeding on the nectar of a Mariposa Lily Photo by: D.G. James Biology There are about 20 families that contain micro-wasps, barely visible, without a hand lens or microscope. There are many thousands of species of these micro-wasps and most of […]
Ichneumonidae and Braconidae: Ichneumons and Braconids Categories: Ichneumonidae and Braconidae Pollinators Wasps Last review date: 2026-06-14 09:11 Ichneumon wasp (Trogus sp.) (Ichneumonidae) Photo by: D.G. James Biology This group of parasitic wasps comprises many species that target caterpillars, beetles and flies. The Ichneumonidae is the largest family of wasps with more than 24,000 species worldwide, […]
Scoliidae: Scoliid Wasps Categories: Pollinators Scoliidae Wasps Last review date: 2026-04-26 09:29 A Scoliid wasp (likely Crioscolia alcione) feeding on nectar and pollen from buckwheat flowers (Eriogonum sp.) Photo by: Jane Abel Biology The family Scoliidae is composed of fairly large, stout-bodied wasps, usually brightly patterned in red and yellow or white, sometimes in combination […]
Crabronidae: Square-headed wasps, Sand wasps Categories: Crabronidae Pollinators Wasps Last review date: 2026-04-26 09:27 Pacific Cicada Killer, Sphecius convallis, feeding on milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) flowers Photo by: D.G. James Biology The Crabronidae is one of our most diverse wasp families, with over 1,200 species in the U.S. and almost 9,000 species worldwide. Most species are […]
Sphecidae: Thread-waisted Wasps Categories: Pollinators Sphecidae Wasps Last review date: 2026-04-26 09:26 A sphecid wasp (Ammophila sp.) carrying caterpillar prey Photo by: D.G. James Biology Sphecids are medium to large solitary digging wasps with about 54 species in our region. They are an extremely diverse group of hunters with great variation in body size and […]
Pompilidae: Spider Wasps Categories: Pollinators Pompilidae Wasps Last review date: 2026-04-26 09:26 A Spider wasp (Episyron sp.) subduing an Orb weaver spider for provisioning its nest. Photo by: Jane Abel Biology Spider wasps are a very diverse family with 300 species in North America. As their name suggests, they specialize in hunting for spiders and […]
Chrysididae: Cuckoo Wasps Categories: Chrysididae Pollinators Wasps Last review date: 2026-04-27 08:28 Cuckoo wasp (Hedychrum sp.) on Desert Parsley (Lomatium sp.) Photo by: Jane Abel Biology Of the more than 200 species of Cuckoo wasps in North America, most occur in the west. Most species are metallic green, blue green or purple and superficially resemble […]
Thynnidae: Flower Wasps Categories: Pollinators Thynnidae Wasps Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:50 Flower wasp: Myzinum sp. (Thynnidae) on Rabbitbrush Photo by: D.G. James Biology Flower wasps are a large family of solitary wasps whose larvae parasitize underground dwelling beetle larvae like scarabs. Most species are small and inconspicuous, but some may be up to an […]
Vespidae: Paper Wasps, Yellowjackets, Hornets and Potter Wasps Categories: Pollinators Vespidae Wasps Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:47 Introduced European paper wasp, Polistes dominula (Vespidae) on Rabbitbrush Photo by: D.G. James Biology Wasps in the family Vespidae are the most dominant generalist pollinators. The social vespid wasps are familiar to most home gardeners and despite their […]
Wasps: Introduction Categories: Pollinators Wasps Wasps Intro Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:44 A sphecid wasp foraging on Rabbitbrush, picking up pollen. Photo by: D.G. James Biology Closely related to bees, wasps are important pollinators although their importance varies between family, genera and species. Wasps are carnivorous during their development, only becoming avid sugar and carbohydrate […]
Bees: Introduction Categories: Bees Bees Intro Pollinators Last review date: 2026-02-27 09:30 Mason bee with pollen on underside of abdomen Photo by: J. Abel Biology Bees in North America are grouped into six families: 1. Colletidae (Polyester Bees) 2. Andrenidae (Mining Bees) 3. Halictidae (Sweat Bees) 4. Mellitidae (Oil-Collecting Bees), 5. Megachilidae (Leafcutter and Mason […]
Colletidae: Polyester and Yellow-Faced Bees Categories: Bees Colletidae Pollinators Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:14 Polyester bee (Colletidae) on rabbitbrush flower Photo by: D. James 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 […]
Andrenidae: Mining and Miner Bees Categories: Andrenidae Bees Pollinators Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:15 Mining bee (Andrena sp.) on rabbitbrush flowers Photo by: D. James Biology The Andrenidae are a large, nearly cosmopolitan family of solitary, ground-nesting bees. Andrena is a large and diverse genus of about 400 species in North America, and many are […]
Halictidae: Alkali Bees, Sweat Bees and Cuckoo Bees Categories: Bees Halictidae Pollinators Last review date: 2026-05-15 11:10 The alkali bee (Nomia melanderia), an important pollinator of alfalfa Photo by: J. Abel Biology Halictidae occur worldwide and are the second largest family of bees. There are about 500 species in North America, and they are small […]
Megachilidae: Carder Bees (Anthidium spp.) Categories: Bees Megachilidae Pollinators Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:26 European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) Photo by: D. James Biology Carder bees are so named because they ‘card’ or comb cottony down from hairy leaves using it to construct brood cells. There are 23 species in North America with at […]
Megachilidae: Leafcutter Bees (Megachile) Categories: Bees Megachilidae Pollinators Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:28 Leafcutter Bee (Megachile sp.) Photo by: D. James Biology Leafcutter bees are solitary bees, and as their name suggests, cut 0.25-0.5 inch circular pieces of leaves or petals from which to construct their brood cells in rotting wood, stems and soil. They […]
Megachilidae: Mason Bees (Osmia spp.) Categories: Bees Megachilidae Pollinators Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:29 Mason bee with pollen on underside of abdomen Photo by: J. Abel Biology There are three genera of Mason bees and closely related species (Hoplitis, Chelostoma, Osmia). Osmia is the most speciose genus with about 150 species in North America. These […]
Apidae: Bumble Bees (Bombus spp.) Categories: Apidae Bees Pollinators Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:30 The yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) found in gardens throughout most of Washington. Photo by: D. James Biology Very familiar, easily recognized and charismatic bees! Most common in higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere, there are less than 50 species of […]
Apidae: Digger Bees (Anthopthora and Habropoda spp.) Categories: Apidae Bees Pollinators Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:35 Digger bee (Anthopthora sp.) Photo by: D. James Biology Digger bees are robust, ranging in size from 0.5-1.0 inch. Anthopthora is a large genus with more than 400 species worldwide and about 100 species in North America. Habropoda is […]
Apidae: Honey bee (Apis mellifera) Categories: Apidae Bees Pollinators Last review date: 2026-04-26 08:40 Honey bee (Apis mellifera) Photo by: D. James Biology The European honey bee is native to Europe, Asia and the Middle East but has been introduced to all parts of the world. Honey bees arrived in North America with European colonists […]