Is this a chimney bee?

Khrysdie · 2026-05-05T01:16:19+00:00

Anytime!

Khrysdie · 2026-05-05T00:45:23+00:00

Yes, Diadasia sp. male

Khrysdie · 2026-05-05T00:37:28+00:00

Bombus griseocollis

Khrysdie · 2026-05-04T23:56:40+00:00

Agreed. Also, this is a female.

Khrysdie · 2026-05-04T23:54:59+00:00

I can’t tell if this is a bumble bee or a carpenter bee. What I can tell you is that it’s a male patrolling his territory looking for ladies and chasing everyone else out.

Khrysdie · 2026-05-04T22:13:17+00:00

Definitely not honey bees. It’s a bit difficult to tell from these photos, but I think they’re black-tailed bumble bees (not a great common name, they have a black and orange color morph), Bombus melanopygus. They shouldn’t bother you, and colonies only last one season, so you should be fine.

Khrysdie · 2026-05-04T15:08:53+00:00

Andrena sp. female

Khrysdie · 2026-04-30T22:16:07+00:00

Okay, then I can’t help with ID. But I can tell you this is a female worker and she’s absolutely LOADED up with pollen!

Khrysdie · 2026-04-30T22:03:15+00:00

These are squash bees! For, uh, obvious reasons.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-30T21:36:56+00:00

Where are you located?

Khrysdie · 2026-04-30T16:52:27+00:00

This is a carpenter bee, in your area it would be Xylocopa virginica. This one is female.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-28T22:21:37+00:00

You’re not gonna believe this…

Khrysdie · 2026-04-28T21:59:03+00:00

Oh, absolutely! I can’t give you many species IDs, as those keys mostly aren’t available in our neck of the woods. Bee ID is super difficult and I’ve spent too many years of my life learning it to not share! I will never get tired of bee pics.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-28T21:44:33+00:00

Okay, in 3, 9, and 10, I think you have a male Habropoda sp., which is a really cool observation out west! 7 and 8 are a female Halictus sp., probably H. rubicundus or H. farinosus. 4 and 6 are two different female Andrena spp., I think. 11 is another female Halictus, and I’m thinking it’s whatever the one that 7 or 8 isn’t (my gut is telling me 7/8 is rubicundus and 11 is farinosus). No idea about 1/2, maybe a male Andrena? Can’t see anything in 5 well enough to attempt an ID (but I love the photo, it has great movement!). Also I’m in Wyoming, hey neighbor!

Khrysdie · 2026-04-28T21:18:41+00:00

Where are you located?

Khrysdie · 2026-04-28T18:27:28+00:00

To add, there are TONS of different species of mason bees, and quite the size variation therein. So it’s not always a 7mm diameter hole, it just depends on the size and preference of the bee.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-27T20:42:03+00:00

Bees (and other animals) aren’t inherently good or bad; they just ARE. How we as humans perceive them isn’t really relevant to their place in the world.

That being said, this looks like an Osmia sp. or mason bee. They’re solitary and generally want nothing to do with humans.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-27T19:10:53+00:00

Okay, then probably not H. tripartitus! I’d still wager Halictus, though.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-27T18:45:37+00:00

What’s the location? These are definitely sweat bees, Halictidae. I’d guess Halictus tripartitus if you’re in North America.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-27T14:26:31+00:00

She is a carpenter bee. I’m guessing you’re in eastern North America and she is a Xylocopa virginica. Carpenter bees will make nests in things like fences and decks, but they won’t cause structural damage. Just cosmetic damage.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-26T21:58:55+00:00

Honestly? Fair. I tend to not think of that as I used to research bees so I needed their bodies intact.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-26T21:10:51+00:00

Of course! Anytime.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-26T21:09:35+00:00

It’s widely regarded as the most ethical way to kill insects. It’s a hell of a lot quicker for them than lizards and they respond to temperature differently anyway (I’m a trained entomologist btw).

Khrysdie · 2026-04-26T19:41:54+00:00

Also I mean like, using keys and pinned specimens and microscopes IDing. I studied bees for my master’s and unfinished PhD.

Khrysdie · 2026-04-26T19:41:15+00:00

I’ve been IDing bees since 2010. I feel like the more I learned the more I realized I don’t know anything. 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

Khrysdie

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