Osmia bees, commonly known as Mason bees. There are about 140 species of Osmia bees in North America. They overwinter as adults and are the earlier bees to show up.

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in a variety of hole sizes from 4mm-9mm. You can attract them with our InvitaBee attractant which is great for all Osmia species

Egg chamber door material: Various species use mud, chewed up leaf bits, pebbles, or resin to construct partitions and seal the entrance to their nests, which is why they are called Mason bees!

Megachile bees are commonly known as leaf and mason bees. There are over 45 species of Megachile bees in North America. They overwinter as pupae and are summer bees.

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in a variety of hole sizes from 4mm-7mm.

Egg chamber door material: They use materials like leaves, petals, mud, or resin to construct their nests. Check our list of their preferred leaves.

Anthidium, commonly known as wool carder bees, is an interesting group of solitary bees found in North America. They tend to have broad, flattened abdomens, and their colored stripes don't go all the way around.

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in a variety of hole sizes from 6mm-8mm. 

Egg chamber door material:  Most female wool carder bees scrape plant hairs (trichomes) from leaves and stems to use as nesting material. They do not cut leaves like Summer leaf bees. Some close their egg chambers with plant fibers, resin, mud, or a mix of these materials.

Chelostoma bees are known for their slender, elongated bodies and overall black coloration.

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 3mm-5mm.  

Egg chamber door material: They use plant fibers, resin, or mud to construct their nests.

There are roughly 25 species of Heriades in North and Central America, but only 3 species are native east of the Rocky Mountains. 

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 4mm-6mm. 

Egg chamber door material: These bees use resin collected from plants and trees. They mix the resin with particles of wood and plant material to create a durable and waterproof seal. This resin not only helps to protect their offspring from moisture but also insulates the nest and deters predators with its strong odor. 

There are nearly 60 species of Hoplitis bees found within the United States.

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 3mm-8mm. 

Egg chamber door material: Depending on the species, they can use mud, resin, leaf pulp, or sand/soil to close their egg chambers.

Hylaeus bees are known as yellow-faced or masked bees. They are small, slender, usually black with bright yellow or white markings on their face and legs. They resemble tiny black wasps but are virtually hairless. There are about 130 species of Hylaeus bees in North America.

These bees are small, usually 5-7mm long. Unlike most bees, they do not have external pollen-carrying structures. Instead, they carry pollen in a special compartment in their stomachs, known as the crop. They regurgitate the pollen/nectar mix into their nesting hole for the egg they'll lay.

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in tiny hole sizes from 2mm-4mm. 

Egg chamber door material: They create egg chambers with a cellophane-like material, which they also use to line their nests. 

There are more than 15 species of the "potter" wasps in North America. They have hooked antennas. In general, they prey typically on moth caterpillars.

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in a variety of hole sizes from 5mm-9mm. 

Egg chamber door material: These wasps typically use mud or clumped sand to build their nest cells and nest plugs. 

Dipogon is a genus of spider wasps with roughly 6 species found in North America:

Dipogon wasps get the spider silk from the spiders they capture and paralyze. These wasps are known for their unique behavior of hunting spiders and using them to provision their nests. Once the wasp has captured a spider, it will carry it back to its nest and use the spider’s silk to help construct and seal the nest.

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 5mm-9mm. 

Egg chamber door material: They construct multiple compartments within the nest using a combination of chewed wood and spider silk, and the entrance is sealed with the same materials.

Euodynerus wasp, commonly known as potter wasp are non-aggressive and focus on gathering prey (caterpillars and other insect larvae) in yards.

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 6mm to 10mm. 

Egg chamber door material: Mud

The isodontia wasps are known for sealing their nests with grass and other plant material. They are great predators of tree crickets or grasshoppers. There are about 6 species in North America.

Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in a variety of hole sizes from 5mm-9mm. 

Egg chamber door material: Grass and other plant material.

One of the most common Monobia species in North America is Monobia quadridens, also known as the four-toothed mason wasp. This species is widely distributed across eastern North America, including the United States and parts of Canada. Monobia quadridens is known for its distinctive black and white markings. Its prey is typically moth caterpillars. 

Size of nesting hole preferred: They nest in a variety of hole sizes from 6mm-10mm

Egg chamber door material: Pre-existing cavities such as tunnels abandoned by carpenter bees, old nests built by mud daubers, and hollow plant stems.

Most of the common Pachodynerus species are a type of potter wasp found in the southern states of the US:

1. Pachodynerus erynnis: Known as the red-marked Pachodynerus, it is found in the southeastern United States.
2. Pachodynerus nasidens: This species is found in the southern United States, including Texas and Arizona, and has also been introduced to other regions.
3. Pachodynerus acuticarinatus: This species is found in Arizona and Texas.
4. Pachodynerus californicus: As the name suggests, it is found in California and other parts of the southwestern United States.

These wasps are known for their potter and mason wasp behaviors. Their prey are caterpillars and beetle larvae. They seal their nesting chambers with mud. 

Size of nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 5mm-8mm.

Egg chamber door material: They seal their nesting chambers with mud. 

North America has many Parancistrocerus species:

1. Parancistrocerus fulvipes: Known for its distinctive yellow and black markings, it is commonly found in gardens and meadows.
2. Parancistrocerus leionotus: Often seen in forests and woodlands, it has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.
3. Parancistrocerus perennis: Found in various habitats, including urban areas, it is recognized by its dark coloration with yellow spots.
4. Parancistrocerus areatus: Known for its ringed appearance, it is commonly found in coastal regions.
5. Parancistrocerus bicornis: Often seen in desert regions, it has a distinctive cryptic coloration that helps it blend into its surroundings.

These wasps are known for their potter and mason wasp behaviors, often building nests in pre-existing cavities or creating mud nests. They typically prey on moth caterpillars. 

Size of nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 5mm-8mm.

Egg chamber door material: They close their egg chambers with clay-like mud.

Here are some common Passaloecus species found in North America:

1. Passaloecus annulatus: Known for its large mandibles, it is commonly found in gardens and meadows.
2. Passaloecus cuspidatus: Often seen in forests and woodlands, it has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.
3. Passaloecus borealis: Found in various habitats, including urban areas, it is recognized by its dark coloration with yellow spots.
4. Passaloecus gracilis: Known for its slender appearance, it is commonly found in coastal regions.
5. Passaloecus insignis: Often seen in desert regions, it has a distinctive cryptic coloration that helps it blend into its surroundings.

These wasps are known for their aphid-hunting behavior, using their large mandibles to carry their aphid prey back to their nests. 

Size of nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 2mm-5mm.

Egg chamber door material: They seal their egg chambers with combinations of plant fibers, mud, and resin.

Here are some common Stenodynerus species found in North America:

1. Stenodynerus fundatiformis: Known for its distinctive yellow and black markings, it is commonly found in gardens and meadows.
2. Stenodynerus histrionalis: Often seen in forests and woodlands, it has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.
3. Stenodynerus blepharus: Found in various habitats, including urban areas, it is recognized by its dark coloration with yellow spots.
4. Stenodynerus propinquus: Known for its ringed appearance, it is commonly found in coastal regions.
5. Stenodynerus krombeini: Often seen in desert regions, it has a distinctive cryptic coloration that helps it blend into its surroundings.

These wasps are known for their potter and mason wasp behaviors, often building nests in pre-existing cavities or creating mud nests.  Its common prey are caterpillars and beetle larvae. 

Size of nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 5mm-8mm.

Egg chamber door material: It seals its egg chambers with mud.

Here are some common Symmorphus species found in North America:

1. Symmorphus canadensis: Known for its distinctive black and yellow markings, it is commonly found in gardens and meadows.
2. Symmorphus cristatus: Often seen in forests and woodlands, it has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.
3. Symmorphus albomarginatus: Found in various habitats, including urban areas, it is recognized by its dark coloration with yellow spots.
4. Symmorphus bifasciatus: Known for its ringed appearance, it is commonly found in coastal regions.
5. Symmorphus gracilis: Often seen in desert regions, it has a distinctive cryptic coloration that helps it blend into its surroundings.

These wasps are known for their potter and mason wasp behaviors, often building nests in pre-existing cavities or creating mud nests. They prey primarily on beetle larvae and caterpillars. 

Size of nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 5mm-8mm.

Egg chamber door material: They seal their egg chambers with mud and plant material.

Here are some common Trypoxylon species found in North America:

1. Trypoxylon politum: Known as the pipe organ mud dauber, it is commonly found in gardens and meadows.
2. Trypoxylon figulus: Often seen in forests and woodlands, it has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.
3. Trypoxylon lactitarse: Found in various habitats, including urban areas, it is recognized by its dark coloration with yellow spots.
4. Trypoxylon collinum: Known for its ringed appearance, it is commonly found in coastal regions.
5. Trypoxylon rubiginosum: Often seen in desert regions, it has a distinctive cryptic coloration that helps it blend into its surroundings.

These wasps are known for their spider-hunting behavior, often building nests in pre-existing cavities or creating mud nests. 

Size of nesting hole preferred: They nest in hole sizes from 5mm-12mm.

Egg chamber door material: They close their nesting holes with mud.