#anthophorini

“A Japanese Bee in America. This is Anthophora villosula. An Anthophora that was introduced in the 80s to Eastern U.S. for ag purposes, but its potential was never realized. Now, unfortunately, it is a common and spreading alien species dispersing from its original location in the Washington D.C. area and will likely occupy much of the country at some point. It can be found nesting in the dry dirt under decks, in upturned root masses and in the earthen plaster of strawbale houses such as mine, where it nests by the hundreds. It does favor the "alien" plant community over the natives so it will be another interesting story to watch how it integrates and competes with the local bee fauna. Another rock thrown into the quiet pool of native bees and their flowers. Photographs by Brooke Alexander.” - via Wikimedia Commons

this is the digger bee (scientific name: anthophorini)! they gained their name from their chosen method of nesting: in the ground! though this may seem peculiar, it’s actually common! 70% of the 20,000 species of bees in existence nest underground! (side note: do not refer to ground bee nests as “bee holes”. learned that the hard way.)

Banded Bees are a diverse group, occurring in lands all across the Old World and Australia. Asian and Australian groups tend to be more of the “Blue-banded” variety while in the Eastern part of their range they more often than not lack any blue reflections.

251 species known