When people talk about the bees that nest in bee hotels, they typically talk about Mason and Leaf bees. It might surprise you that there are roughly 110 different species of solitary, cavity-nesting bees and beneficial wasps(!) in the US.
Supporting ALL bees and beneficial wasps (which are some of the predators in your yard) is important. This page shows you what wild bees and wasp species that have been sighted from iNaturalist participants.
iNaturlist is a wonderful app that allows anyone to take pictures of nature and help identify it for you. Experts often go through the pictures and give credibility to many of the bee and wasp species.
To use this page, type in below the radius of the range you want to see, and the city/state which will be the center of your search window.
After the data updates, look below at the various bee and beneficial wasp species that have been sited! When you click on the links, you'll be able to see the myriads of photos that might help you identify who might be using your bee hotel. How cool is that?
Heads up: If no pictures have been taken in an area, then right or wrong, the charts below won't show that species.
Get started by typing in a radius and your town/city below.
First, let's look at bees around you, then beneficial wasps!
Osmia
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 that 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
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.
Anthidium (Wool carder Bees)
Anthidium, commonly known as wool carder bees, are 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 leafcutter bees. Some close their egg chambers with plant fibers, resin, mud, or a mix of these materials.
"Oblong Woolcarder Bee - Anthidium oblongatum" by Michael Knapp 2022
(Anthidium in your search radius) (Full Anthidium list)
Chelostoma
Chelostoma bees are known for their slender, elongated bodies and overall black coloration.
Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in a variety of hole sizes from 3mm-5mm.
Egg chamber door material: They use plant fibers, resin, or mud to construct their nests.
"Mock-orange Scissor Bee - Chelostoma philadelphi" by Bernie Paquette 2023
(Chelostoma in your search radius) (Full chelostoma list)
Heriades
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 a variety of 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.
Hoplitis
There are nearly 60 species of Hoplitis bees found within the United States.
Size of Nesting hole preferred: They nest in a variety of 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
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 a variety of hole sizes are tiny from 2mm-4mm.
Egg chamber door material: They create egg chambers with a cellophane-like material, which they also use to line their nests.
"Modest Masked Bee - Hylaeus modestus" by Amy Schnebelin, 2018
Beneficial Wasps
Wasps that nest in cavities are solitary and raise their young by parasitizing prey and placing an egg next to or in the insect. They protect their egg chamber with a variety of materials. Because they're solitary, they are far gentler than their social cousins! While most people are afraid of wasps due to the aggressive social wasps, a balanced yard has both predator and prey in it. We celebrate these gentle predators!
Ancistrocerus
There are more than 15 species of ancistrocerus "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
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 a variety of 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
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 a variety of hole sizes from 6mm-10mm.
Egg chamber door material: Mud
Isodontia
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.
"Brown-legged Grass-carrying Wasp Isodontia auripe" by Louise Woodrich 2022.jpg
Monobia
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 and its habit of nesting in pre-existing cavities such as tunnels abandoned by carpenter bees, old nests built by mud daubers, and hollow plant stems. Its prey is typically moth caterpillars.
Nesting hole sizes are about 6-10mm
Pachodynerus
Most of the common Pachodynerus species are a type of potter wasp found in the southern states of the US:
- Pachodynerus erynnis: Known as the red-marked Pachodynerus, it is found in the southeastern United States.
- Pachodynerus nasidens: This species is found in the southern United States, including Texas and Arizona, and has also been introduced to other regions.
- Pachodynerus acuticarinatus: This species is found in Arizona and Texas.
- 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, often building nests in pre-existing cavities or creating mud nests. Their prey are caterpillars and beetle larvae. They seal their nesting chambers with mud.
Nesting hole sizes are about 5-8mm
(Pachodynerus in your search radius)(Full Species List)
Parancistrocerus
North America has many Parancistrocerus species:
- Parancistrocerus fulvipes: Known for its distinctive yellow and black markings, it is commonly found in gardens and meadows.
- Parancistrocerus leionotus: Often seen in forests and woodlands, it has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.
- Parancistrocerus perennis: Found in various habitats, including urban areas, it is recognized by its dark coloration with yellow spots.
- Parancistrocerus areatus: Known for its ringed appearance, it is commonly found in coastal regions.
- 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. The close their egg chambers with clayey mud.
Nesting hole sizes are about 5-8mm
Passaloecus
Here are some common Passaloecus species found in North America:
- Passaloecus annulatus: Known for its large mandibles, it is commonly found in gardens and meadows.
- Passaloecus cuspidatus: Often seen in forests and woodlands, it has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.
- Passaloecus borealis: Found in various habitats, including urban areas, it is recognized by its dark coloration with yellow spots.
- Passaloecus gracilis: Known for its slender appearance, it is commonly found in coastal regions.
- 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. They seal their egg chambers with combinations of plant fibers, mud, and resin.
Nesting hole sizes are about 2-5mm
Stenodynerus
Here are some common Stenodynerus species found in North America:
- Stenodynerus fundatiformis: Known for its distinctive yellow and black markings, it is commonly found in gardens and meadows.
- Stenodynerus histrionalis: Often seen in forests and woodlands, it has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.
- Stenodynerus blepharus: Found in various habitats, including urban areas, it is recognized by its dark coloration with yellow spots.
- Stenodynerus propinquus: Known for its ringed appearance, it is commonly found in coastal regions.
- 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. It seals its egg chambers with mud.
Nesting hole sizes are about 5-8mm
Stenodynerus fundatiformis by Louise Woodrich, 2021
Stenodynerus is a large genus of potter wasp that is closely related to Parancistrocerus. Unlike Parancistrocerus, however, Stenodynerus do not carry mites on their abdomens.
Symmorphus
Here are some common Symmorphus species found in North America:
- Symmorphus canadensis: Known for its distinctive black and yellow markings, it is commonly found in gardens and meadows.
- Symmorphus cristatus: Often seen in forests and woodlands, it has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.
- Symmorphus albomarginatus: Found in various habitats, including urban areas, it is recognized by its dark coloration with yellow spots.
- Symmorphus bifasciatus: Known for its ringed appearance, it is commonly found in coastal regions.
- 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. They seal their egg chambers with mud and plant material.
Nesting hole sizes are about 5-8mm.
Trypoxylon
Here are some common Trypoxylon species found in North America:
- Trypoxylon politum: Known as the pipe organ mud dauber, it is commonly found in gardens and meadows.
- Trypoxylon figulus: Often seen in forests and woodlands, it has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.
- Trypoxylon lactitarse: Found in various habitats, including urban areas, it is recognized by its dark coloration with yellow spots.
- Trypoxylon collinum: Known for its ringed appearance, it is commonly found in coastal regions.
- 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. They close their nesting holes with mud.
Nesting hole sizes are about 5-12mm.
We need your help!
Finding these diverse bees and wasps, then helping them thrive, is a must for pollinator protection.
- Plant native and heirloom flowers in your yard.
- Observe what species of bees or beneficial wasps are using your hotel.
- Upload the iNaturalist app, register, then upload pictures.
- Lastly, if you find that these bees or beneficial wasps show up each year, consider participating in a local seed swap, where you can allow other gardeners the ability to help the bees or wasps thrive.