Oil bees
Washington has just one known species in all of the Melittidae bee family! These bees are unusual in that they collect floral oils and are hence known as "oil bees."
Washington Bee Atlas volunteer Aidan Hersh was the first to record/collect this bee in 2024. It had not been seen in many years! It's common name is the dark-footed yellow loosestrife bee.
You can help observe this bee both by looking for and recording observtions of yellow loosestrife and any bees you see on this plant on iNaturalist!
Bee size
Washington Bee Atlas volunteer Aidan Hersh was the first to record/collect this bee in 2024. It had not been seen in many years! It's common name is the dark-footed yellow loosestrife bee.
You can help observe this bee both by looking for and recording observtions of yellow loosestrife and any bees you see on this plant on iNaturalist!
Bee size
- small to medium
- 1
- Macropis
- Carry oil on legs