VT Bee Species Accounts: Exploring the Rich Diversity of Native Bee Species in Vermont

First Mock-orange Scissor Bee 
 (Chelostoma philadelphi) posted on
 iNaturalist for Vermont.

Who are the  350 wild bee species of Vermont? 

 

I have discovered a new world that seems unmoving without a close, attentive look.

After observing over one thousand taxa of invertebrates in our 1.3-acre yard, including 98 bee species, over three years, I am dedicated to documenting and sharing the rich diversity of bee species in Vermont through the VT Bee Species Accounts project.

"VT Bee Species Accounts" (VBSA) Introduction 

Vermont: Small state, Big Bee interest. The interest in pollinators, especially bees, is growing. Yet that interest seems outpaced by the need for an aggregate or consolidated source of the (documented) fabulous diversity and plasticity in how each species lives. 

VBSA is a comprehensive guide dedicated to consolidating documented research detailing descriptions of every bee species known to be in Vermont, their habitats, behaviors, and bee-to-flower interactions within Vermont's ecosystems.

Goal: To improve the availability of existing data about Vermont wild bee species. To increase public awareness and familiarity of the 350+ Vermont Bee Species. Designed for non-specialists.

Key Points

• Project Objectives: The "VT Bee Species Accounts" aim to provide a comprehensive guide documenting the biology, behavior, and floral associations of every bee species known in Vermont in one document. It seeks to make this information easily accessible to society to promote understanding and conservation of bees.
• Document Categories: The spreadsheet includes various categories of information about each Vermont bee species (350+), such as nesting behavior, nest structure, foraging habits, life cycle, population status, and interactions with plants.
• Additional Tabs: In addition to the main spreadsheet, there are tabs for a VT bee checklist and phenology, bumblebee facts, "Did you know" bee facts, a bee dictionary, resources, and a bee-to-flower matrix.
• Dual Purpose and Impact:
• Consolidated Information: The VBSA provides a consolidated collection of detailed information on Vermont bee species, making it easily accessible to researchers, enthusiasts, and the general public. By offering comprehensive insights into the biology, behavior, and ecological interactions of each species, it aims to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of Vermont's diverse bee populations.
• Stimulating Observation and Research: A key objective is to encourage more people to observe bees and other insects in their natural habitats. By showcasing the fascinating lives of bees and the intricate relationships they have with their environment, the project aims to inspire curiosity and engagement in insect observation and conservation efforts. Additionally, the project seeks to stimulate further collation of existing research on Vermont bee species to enhance public knowledge and awareness.
• Why Learn About VT Bees*: Reconnect with the natural world and better understand the lives of other species, such as bees for their benefit and our benefit. 
• Collaboration Invitation: You are invited to contribute to the project by providing data on bee species found in Vermont. Each contributor is encouraged to add information, with sources cited.
• Bernie's Bio: I have a passion for insects and helping others engage in nature exploration and observation.

*Page to the bottom to read more on "Why learn about VT bees".

Key points utilized recommendations from OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (3.5) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com

Overall, the project is an effort to contribute to our understanding and appreciation of Vermont's bee species and how they live their lives. Collaboration and community involvement will undoubtedly enrich the dataset and contribute to its success.

  

   The VT Bee Species Accounts will provide readers a look at how each of these bee species lives, how they raise their families, the struggles, and their unique behaviors, the adaptations to their environment, and how they perceive the world - I think readers will fall in love with many of the individual and unique species.

Knowledge of the lives of Vermont bee species will promote the conservation and diversity of insects as part of the urban fabric. 

Make discoveries for yourself as well as for scientists and conservation.

  

      Preview of the categories in the document.

1. Full Taxa.
 2. Species seen in our yard.
 3. Months that Vermont Atlas of Life picked up observations. 
4. BB phenology by month. 
The following have multiple-column sub-topics: 
 5. Population status (rank, trends, endangered or threatened). 
6. Hot links to seven Sources (by species) (Bees of Canada, Discovery of Life...).
 7. Bee body information. (Length, thoracic width, tongue size...).
8. Mating behavior. 
9. Male behavior. 
10. Sociality. 
11. Nesting (Habitat, substrate, depth, nest size, lining...).
12. Foraging (Lecty, Distance, floral constancy...).
13. Cell Provisioning (Type of provisioning: mass, wet, dry...).
14 Egg (Index calculation - egg size, time to hatch).
 15. Larva (Cocoon formation y/n, other larva particulars). 
16. Life cycle (Life span, overwintering stage...). 
17. Reproduction. (Various elements of the rate of production).
 18. Parasitic /  Predators. 
19. Individual plants and bee species that feed on them and what the bee takes from the plants (Nectar, Pollen, Resin...).

*See a more detailed listing below.

Here are some of the Resources I utilized the most so far. 

Abrams, J. & Eickwort, G.C.	1979	NEST SWITCHING AND GUARDING. NEST SWITCHING AND GUARDING BY THE COMMUNAL SWEAT BEE AGAPOSTEMON VIRESCENS (HYMENOPTERA, HALICTIDAE)
Almeida, E.A.B.	2007	Colletidae nesting biology (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)*
Antoine C.M.  & Forrest, J.	2020	Nesting habitat of ground-nesting bees: a review
Baker, J.R.	1971	Development and Sexual Dimorphism of Larvae of the Bee Genus Coelioxys
Barrows, E.M.	1976	Mating Behavior in Halictine Bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae): I, Patrolling and Age-Specific Behavior in Males. * Good Read
Batra, S.W.	1964	BEHAVIOR OF THE SOCIAL BEE, LASIOCLOSSUM ZEPHYRUM, WITHIN THE NEST (HYMENOPTERA : HALICTID,q~)
Cane, J.H.	1991	Soils of Ground-Nesting Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea): Texture, Moisture, Cell Depth and Climate. Downloads to your hard drive. Chart of soil characteristics (sand, clay, silt, gravel) for numerous species.
Cardinal, S. & Danforth, B.N.	2011	The Antiquity and Evolutionary History of Social Behavior in Bees
Danforth, B.N.	2007	Bees by Bryan  Danforth, reported in Current Biology 2007
Danforth, B.N. et al	2019	The Solitary Bees - The Solitary Bees. Biology, Evolution, Conservation. Book.
Eickwort G.C.	1977	MALE TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE MASON BEE HOPLITIS ANTHOCOPOIDES (HYMENOPTERA : MEGACHILIDAE).
Eickwort G.C. et al	1986	The Nesting Biology of Dufourea novaeangliae (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) and the Systematic Position of the Dufoureinae Based on Behavior and Development
Eickwort, G.C.	1975	Gregarious Nesting of the Mason Bee Hoplitis anthocopoides and the Evolution of Parasitism and Sociality Among Megachilid Bees * Good read. Page 145-146 details on an attack (Bees that attempt to open…)
Eickwort, G.C. & Ginsberg, H.S.	1980	FORAGING AND MATING BEHAVIOR IN APOIDEA. Provides a thorough lecty description. * Overall a good read.
Eickwort, G.C. & Sakagami S.F.	1979	A Classification of Nest Architecture of Bees in the Tribe Augochlorini (Hymenoptera: Halictidae; Halictinae), with Description of a Brazilian Nest of Rhinocorynura inflaticeps Author(s): George C. Eickwort and Shoichi F. Sakagami. Source: Biotropica, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Mar., 1979), pp. 28-37
Espinoza, A.C. Et al	2022	Biology of Andrena (Callandrena sensu lato) asteris Robertson (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), an Eastern Aster Specialist that Makes a Very Deep Nest
Felix et al	2024	Home-and-away comparisons of life history traits indicate enemy release and founder effects of the solitary bee, Megachile sculpturalis
Fowler, J. & Droege, S	2020	Pollen Specialists of the Eastern US: Fowler, Droege
Gardner, K.E. & Ascher, J.S.	2006	Notes on the native bee pollinators in New York apple orchards.
Gathmann, A. & Tscharntke T.	2002	The Foraging Range Of Bees. - Foraging Range Of Solitary Bees: Gathmann, A. and Tscharntke, T. (2002), Foraging ranges of solitary bees. Journal of Animal Ecology, 71: 757-764. (16 bee species).
Gibbs, J. Et al	2023	A checklist of the bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Manitoba, Canada
Giovanetti, M. & Lasso E.	2005	Review of traits related to the rate of reproduction of Andrenida
Goodell, K.	2022	Identification of Bumble Bees from Eastern North America with Karen Goodell
Holm, H.	2022	Heather Holm, Bumble Bee Banquet: Selecting Native Plants for Bumble Bees (Video recording)
Holm, H.	2020	Solitary Native Bees
Iwata, K. & Malaga’s S.	1966	Gigantism and dwarfism in bee eggs in relation to the modes of life, with notes on the number of ovarioles. PDF
Lightburn, K.	2022	The first gynandromorph record of the North American bee Hylaeus modestus (hymenoptera: colldtidad) An individual with male and female characteristics.
Michener, C.D.	1974	The Social Behavior of the Bees - A comparative Study.(PDF) and (book).
Michener, C.D.	1953	The Biology of a Leafcutter Bee (Megachile brevis) and Its Associates  *(Good read)
Michener, C.D.	1966	The Bionomics of a Primitively Social Bee, Lasioglossum versatum (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)
Michener, C.D.	1971	InteractionsinColoniesofPrimitivelySocialBees: ArtificialColoniesof Lasioglossum zephyrum
Michener, C.D.	1977	Geographical Variation in Nesting Biology and Social Organization of Halictus ligatus (may be slow to open)
Michener, C.D.	1955	Some Biological Observations on Hoplitis Pilosifrons and Stelis Lateralis (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) * Good read
Michener, C.D.	1966	INTERACTION AMONG WORKERS FROM DIFFERENT COLONIES OF SWEAT BEES (HYMENOPTERA, HALICTIDAE) - Bees entering the wrong nests
Michener, C.D.  & Ordway E.	1963	The Life History of Perdita maculigera maculipennis (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) * Good read.
Portman, Z.M.	2018	Foraging Behavior, Taxonomy, and Morphology of Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), with an Emphasis on Perdita (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)
Rehan, S.M.	2020	Small Carpenter Bees (Ceratina)
Rehan, S.M. & Richards, M.	2010	Nesting biology and subsociality in Ceratina calcarata (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Rozen, J.G. Jr. & Jacobson N.R.	1980	Biology and Immature Stages ofMacropis nuda, Including Comparisons to Related Bees (Apoidea, Melittidae)(Downloads to your hard drive). * Good read.
Sheffield, C.S. Et atl	2011	Leafcutter and mason bees of the genus Megachile Latreille (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Canada and Alaska
Stockhammer, K.A.	1966	Nesting Habits and Life Cycle of a Sweat Bee, Augochlora pura (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). *Good Read.
Vickruchk, J.L. et al	2011	Nesting biology and DNA barcode analysis of Ceratina dupla and C. mikmaqi, and comparisons with C. calcarata (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopinae)
Vicruck, J.L.  Et al	2011	Nesting biology and DNA barcode analysis of Ceratina dupla and C. mikmaqi, and comparisons with C. calcarata (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopinae)
Williams, P.H. et al	2014	Bumble Bees of North America (Book)
Wilson, J.S. & Messinger, C.	2015	The Bees in Your Backyard. (Book)
Zureichen, L. Et al.	2010	Maximum Foraging Ranges in Solitary Bees: Only Few Individuals have the Capability to Cover Long Foraging Distances
	N/a	VT Atlas of Life Species Profile
	N/a	Discover Life
	N/a	Bug Guide
	N/a	Nature Serve Explorer
	N/a	How to ID Bees. VCE
	N/a	iNaturalist
	N/a	iNaturalist postings by Bernie (type in any taxon)
		Minnesota Bee Species List
	N/a	Cleptoparasite bees. Vermont Center for Eco Studies
	?	Buzz about Bees. Research Papers Investigating Foraging Distances Of Bees.
	?	Pollinators in Peril: TRENDS
	N/a	Bee Watching
	N/a	Wikipedia
	2022	Cornell NY BEES List
	N/a	Bees of Canada Image Database
	2012	Wild Pollinators of Eastern Apple Orchards and how to conserve them.
	2022	Biology, Genetic Diversity, and Conservation of Wild Bees in Tree Fruit Orchards
	N/a	Keystone Native Plants. Eastern Temperate Forests - Ecoregion 5  &  Eastern Temperate Forests - Ecoregion 8

I use The following tools to search for data to fill in data cells in the matrix.

100	Google Scholar
101	Elsevier’s Scopus Database.
102	UVM’s Howe Library research databases.
103	Champlain College Library collections
104	Vermont Online Library.
105	Middlebury Library online.
106	Orthoptera Species File
107	Catalog of Life
109	Citizen Science: How to carry out a crowdsource or citizen science project.
111	Using Crowdsourcing In Government
112	Quality Assurance Handbook and Toolkit for Participatory Science Projects
114	Mendeley
115	Web of Science
116	USDA Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research: Logan, UT
117	Emerald Insight: Discover Journals, Books & Case Studies.

Why learn about VT Bees

   Molly Gloss  in the novel "The Wild Life” writes, "But the conquest of the natural world has been the ruling passion of this modern society."

   To which I rephrase and add - Now it must be our ruling passion to become reacquainted with and learn about the ways of the natural world; Our efforts must begin to repair our damage; aid or step aside as it repairs itself.

   As Ed Yong in "An Immense World" writes, “We are closer than ever to understanding what it is like to be another animal, but we have made it harder than ever for other animals to be.” 

   We need to change our effect on other life forms. Getting to know them better is a good place to start. 

   I seldom can recall the names of the insects I view never mind ID them properly. Still, I wonder what name they might give me. Perhaps my token name, Bugeyedbernie would reflect their perceived meaning of my practice of observing them and seeking to learn about each species' differentiated life cycle - to learn truth and meaning from them and how they live their lives. As Gloss says, we can "find again our connection between ourselves and the natural world.”

   From Gloss again, “I realize how little I know of their inner lives. Books and scientific knowledge - those things I have always believed in  - cannot tell what the world looks like and smells like to them. Oh! I would like to enter their consciousness. I have a strong yearning to visit inside their minds, know their thinking and feeling - have them look at me and see something like themselves.”

   Much is unknown and a lot of 'known to some but not published' in terms of the outside behaviors, life cycles, and needs of most insects, including the 300 or so bees known to be in Vermont. Every creature and human as well can only sense and experience a small portion of their surroundings. That portion is their Umwelt or perceptual world. As science and each of us, discover more about animals' senses, we can better understand their lives. As Ed Young in “The Immense World” states, Our senses filter in what we need. We must choose to learn about the rest.” 

   Amazing new details are discovered every day. I invite you to read about some of the details known about individual bee species (for they each differ dramatically in life cycle, behaviors, what they sense…). 

More public outreach by Bernie:

•  ninety-eight bee species 
•  VT Bug Eyed 
•  single-panel nature-inspired comics  
•  Six-Word Insect Memoirs,
•  First in VT
•  Meet Clara Bee Huginton
• ‘Bug Safari’ 

   Mostly, I want to share this fascinating world of everyone’s backyard for all to explore - to observe and get to know their closest neighbors. 

  Bernie Paquette 

(bugeyedbernie on iNaturalist)

 I am an inverter!

Jericho, Vt   

NOTE: This species accounts project will not cover Bee ID. For that I recommend Sam Droege and Clare Maffei's how to 'bee' videos  Thanks to tremendous detailed ID and process work by John Ascher* and others, there are tools (Discover Life Matrix Guide) to assist with IDs no matter what level of knowledge base that you are at. * See John's list of Databases including a bee species world checklist and his many journal publications, below his bio. 

Inspiration

Metamorphism - Building organizations interested in Invertebrates in Vermont

Excerpt from, Song of Myself, 32

Walt Whitman

1819 – 1892

   

I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd,

I stand and look at them long and long.

They do not sweat and whine about their condition,

They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,

They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,

Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things,

Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,

Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.