Masked Bees

The Masked Bees

Aussie Bee Homepage > Native Bee Photo Gallery > Masked Bees

Hylaeus nubilosus is just one of many yellow-spotted masked bees in the family Colletidae. It builds a typical solitary nest. But another one of these distinctive species turned out to be quite extraordinary! (Full story is in Aussie Bee Bulletin, Issue 14).

masked bee

Erica Siegel of Queensland kindly contributed the following delightful photographs of masked bees to the Aussie Bee website:

masked bee

Above: this masked bee is an Australian native bee belonging to the family Colletidae. They are called masked bees because of the bold markings on their faces.

colletid bee

Above: most masked bees build solitary nests -- each female bee raises her young in her own nest burrow all by herself.

masked bee

The Banksia Bee (Hylaeus alcyoneus)

Erica Siegel's Video of Masked Bees

More New Native Bee Photographs