Washington Native Bee Society

As climate change and habitat loss accelerate, our landscapes can become lifelines. Insects are resilient. Collectively, our ecologically friendly landscapes can become safe havens, restoring not just biodiversity but our connection to the natural world.

The focus of this blog is on the topic of “take” (collecting) as it applies to wildlife species, including bees and other insects, with the primary focus on our Washington state laws.

If a common name is any indication, these large bees have an unrivaled affinity for thistles. Their scientific name is a bit more puzzling. Melissodes translates to melissa, meaning "bee," and -odes, meaning "resembling"—so essentially "bee-like." The species name rivalis could mean "of the stream" or maybe "dweller of brooks," though I've mostly seen them in dry places. It also might hint at the word "rival." Like many scientific names, there's a mix of poetry and puzzlement

Habropoda miserabilis, Pacific Dune Digger bees, nesting, dune specialist, Blue-eyed Mary, psammophile, Seablush, Collinsia parviflora

The first Washington state iNaturalist verified observation of the species, Hylaeus basalis, (Cinquefoil Masked Bee).

Solitary bees don’t make honey or combs of wax, but they are incredibly creative when it comes to building nests. Remarkably, over two-thirds of solitary bees nest underground. Mining bees and digger bees are good examples. These small insects that we typically see in flowers also dig burrows that can range from a few inches to several feet deep.

There are green bees. Tons of them. And they wear it well. So well, that I'd say green is the new black and yellow. So, let's go on a photographic adventure through Washington State's verdant pastures so you can see for yourself, and maybe you'll never see bees the same again. 

Digger bees (genus Anthophora) are often the first native bees to be found in a Seattle spring.