Washington Native Bee Society

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.

Who would have thought the world's most amazing bee spectacle takes place in our state?

It's likely you spotted your first bee of the year in February or March, when the rain and snow were just beginning to give way to the...