Bees, Wasps, Sawflies and Ants (order Hymenoptera)

Choose a Hymenoptera classification: Sawflies, not monophyletic ---Pamphili oidea --- ---Pamphiliidae (Web-spinning Sawflies) ---Siricoidea --- ---Siricidae (Horntails) --- --- ---Tremex columba ---Tenthredinoidea --- ---Cimbicidae --- --- ---Cimbex americana --- ---Tenthredinidae --- --- ---Nematus Apocrita (Bees and Wasps) ---Ichneumonoidea --- ---Ichneumonidae --- --- ---Ichneumoninae --- --- ---Pimplinae --- --- ---Phygadeuontinae --- --- ---Ophioninae --- --- ---Triphoninae --- --- ---Acaenitinae --- --- ---Rhyssinae --- --- ---Labeninae --- ---Brachonidae --- --- ---Atanycolus --- --- ---Spathius ---Proctotrupoidea --- ---Pelecinidae --- --- ---Pelecinus polyturbator ---Chalcoidea --- ---Chalcididae --- ---Encyrtidae --- --- ---Adelecyrtus --- --- ---Anagyrus ---Platygastroidea --- ---Platygastridae --- --- ---Trissolcus ---Cynipoidea --- ---Cynipidae (Gall Wasps) --- --- --- --- ---Callirhytis seminator Aculeata (Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps) ---Chrysidoidea --- ---Chrysididae (Cuckoo Wasps) ---Vespoidea --- ---Vespidae --- --- ---Vespinae (Hornets and Yellowjackets) --- --- --- ---Vespa crabro (European Hornet) --- --- --- ---Vespula vulgaris (Yellow Jacket) --- --- --- ---Dolichovespula maculata (Bald-faced Hornet) --- --- ---Polistinae (Paper Wasps) --- --- ---Eumeninae (Mason and Potter Wasps) --- --- --- ---Euodynerus schwarzi --- --- --- ---Monobia quadridens --- --- --- ---Eumenes fraternus ---Thynnoidea --- ---Thynnidae --- --- ---Myzinum ---Pompiloidea --- ---Pompilidae (Spider Wasps) --- ---Mutillidae (Velvet Ants) --- --- ---Dasymutilla alesia --- --- ---Dasymutilla occidentalis (Cowkiller) --- --- ---Timulla floridensis ? ---Scolioidea --- ---Scoliidae --- --- ---Scolia nobilitata --- --- ---Scolia dubia ---Formicoidea (Ants) --- ---Formicidae (Ants) --- --- ---Formicinae --- --- --- ---Lasiini --- --- --- --- ---Prenolepis imparis (Small Honey Ants) --- --- --- --- ---Acanthomyops interjectus (Larger Yellow Ants) --- --- --- ---Campotini --- --- --- --- --- Camponotus pennsylvanicus (Carpenter Ants) --- --- ---Pseudomyrmecinae --- --- --- ---Pseudomyrmecini --- --- --- --- --- Pseudomyrmex ejectus --- ---Sphecidae (Thread-waisted Wasps) --- --- ---Ammophila genus (Caterpillar Hunter) --- --- ---Eremnophila areonotata --- --- --- ---Prionchini --- --- --- --- ---Prionyx --- --- --- --- ---Sphex --- --- --- --- ---Sceliphron --- ---Crabronidae (Bee Wolves and Sand Wasps) --- --- ---Philanthus gibbosus --- --- ---Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus --- --- ---Sphecius speciosus (Cicada Killer) --- --- ---Rhopalum genus ---Anthophila (Bees) --- ---Halictidae (Sweat Bees) --- --- ---Augochlora pura --- --- ---Agapostemon splendens --- ---Andrenidae (Mining Bees) --- ---Megachilidae (Leafcutter Bees) --- --- ---Megachile --- ---Apidae --- --- ---Nomadinae --- --- --- ---Nomada genus --- --- --- ---Triepeolus genus --- --- ---Apinae --- --- --- ---Apis mellifera (European Honeybees) --- --- ---Xylocopinae --- --- --- ---Xylocopa virginica (Carpenter Bees)

Taxonomic classification categories are valid according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).   Information about Hymenoptera species history is based on Grimaldi and Engel (2005).  Some of the classifications below are "under study" and taxonomy changes in general are constantly changing as their genomes are analyzed; this page might not be up-to-date.  I got some great expert help with bee and wasp identification from John S. Ascher, who also reviewed the changes I made under his direction to make sure they were right.  Even then, there is some chance of error, and I claim full responsibility for it.

There are basically three types of Hymenopterans: sawflies, parasitoid wasps, and stinging insects, i.e., bees, ants, and some wasps.  The organization of this page is based on Peters et al (2017).

The general consensus is that bees (unlike wasps) are a monophyletic group, meaning that they come from a certain common ancestor: bees are more closely related than the various wasps, and are more closely related to some wasps than are other wasps.  Most bee species are solitary bees, i.e., all females of those species are designed to reproduce. 

Web-spinning (adult) and Leaf-rolling (larvae) Sawflies (family Pamphiliidae, superfamily Pamphiloidea)

The Symphyta suborder taxon is no longer applied to sawflies, which are no longer considered to be a monophyletic group.

The Pamphiliidae family first appeared about 190 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period, 40 million years before Pangaea, the original continent, started to break up, according to Grimaldi and Engel (2005).

Web-spinning Sawfly, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 6/7/06.  According to John S. Ascher,it is an Onycholyda amplecta. See BugGuide page.	Web-spinning Sawfly (Onycholyda amplecta), Pettigrew State Park, Washington County, NC, 4/28/09	Web-spinnling Sawfly (Onycholyda amplecta), Durham, NC, 6/5/20

Horntails (family Siricidae, superfamily Siricoidea)

This is also a very old family, which first appeared about the same time: 190 million years ago.

Horntail (Tremex columba), Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 6/4/06.  This was an especially large insect, at least 2 inches long.

Argid Sawflies (family Argidae, superfamily Tenthredinoidea)

Poison Ivy Sawfly (Arge humeralis), Durham, NC, 6/9/22.  It had been visiting poison ivy plants.	Argid sawfly, Durham, NC, 5/22/16.  Possibly a foreshortened Arge abdominalis.	Argid Sawfly (Arge genus. quidia or scapularus species), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 5/21/09.  Genus ID and limitation of species ID possibilities thanks to Dave Smith.	Sawfly (Arge humeralis), Ft. Fisher Basin Trail, New Hanover County, NC, 8/12/11	Same Arge humeralis

Cimbicid Sawflies (family Cimbicidae, superfamily Tenthredinoidea)

Not all sawflies are members of unusually ancient families.  The Cimbicidae first appeared about 60 million years ago.

Sawfly (Abia lonicerae), Sandy Creek Park, Durham, NC, 4/1/10.  This genus used to be known as Zaraea, apparently.	Sawfly (Cimbex americana), Indian Creek trail in Chatham County, NC, on 5/3/05. Thanks to Prof. Norman F. Johnson for family ID.

Common Sawflies (family Tenthredinidae, superfamily Tenthredinoidea)

Common Sawfly family member (Tenthredo eximia, Tenthredinidae family).  Genus ID thanks to Dave Smith.	Sawfly (Euura genus, oligospira most likely species), Durham, NC, 4/22/14. Genus ID thanks to Jonathan Hoskins.	Buttonbush Sawfly larva (Pseudosiobla excavata), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham, NC, 5/13/24

Xyelid Sawflies (family Xyelidae, superfamily Xyeloidea, suborder Symphyta)

The Xyela genus originated during the Jurassic Period.

Sawfly, Durham, NC, 3/22/15. Probably Xyla genus.	Male sawfly (Xyela genus), Durham, NC, 2/13/23	Female sawfly (Xyela genus), Durham, NC, 2/13/23	Xyelid sawfly (Xyela genus). ID thanks to Ken Wolgemuth.  Durham, NC, 2/18/18	Xyelid sawfly (Xyela genus), Durham, NC, 3/24/18	Xyelid sawfly larvae (and frass!), Durham, NC, 5/28/19.  Might be in the Megaxyela genus.

Sawfly Larva

Sawfly larva, curled up on this chilly morning, Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 7/2/10

Ichneumon Wasps (family Ichneumonidae, superfamily Ichneumonoidea, suborder Apocrita)

We don't usually think of wasps as being especially beautiful, but this family has more than its share of bright colors and striking patterns.  What these parasitoids do to their prey is not, however:  Charles Darwin is said to have cited them in particular in his remarks to botanist Asa Gray about how his faith in God's goodness was tested by the torment that these animals inflicted.

Ichneumoninae subfamily

Ichneumon Wasp (Cratichneumon variegatus), Durham, NC  9/16/06 Subfamily Ichneumoninae, tribe Ichneumonini.  Taken at night. ID thanks to Bob Carlson	Ichneumon wasp (Ichneumon genus), Durham, 10/29/05

Pimplinae subfamily

Ichneumon wasp (Ephialtini tribe, Pimplinae subfamily), Durham, NC, 11/9/13. Tribe ID thanks to Bob Carlson. My best genus and species guess: Scambus hispae.	Ichneumon wasp (Dolichomitus irritator), Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines, Moore County, NC, 10/23/12.  Species ID confirmed by Ken Wolgemuth.  In the Pimplinae subfamily and Ephialtini tribe.	Ichneumonid wasp, Pimplinae subfamily, Camp Taylor, Marin County, CA, 8/4/07, Subfamily ID thanks to Ross Hill.

Phygadeuontinae subfamily

Parasitoid wasp (Gelis genus), Durham, NC, 9/23/20.  Winglessness is apparently a function of the time of year, when such wasps stay on the ground.  ID thanks to John Rosenfeld.

Ophioninae subfamily

Short-tailed ichneumon wasp (Ophion genus, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/5/06. Genus ID thanks to Ross Hill.	Short-tailed ichnemon wasps (Ophion genus), Durham, NC, 3/21/20

Triphoninae subfamily

Ichneumon wasp (Netelia genus, Phytodietini tribe), Durham, NC, 4/8/08.  Photo taken at night.

Cryptinae subfamily

Ichneumon wasp (Lymeon orbus, Cryptinae subfamily), Durham, 9/12/05

Rhyssinae subfamily

Giant ichneumon wasp (Macrorhyssa macrurus).  This wasp's ovipositor was easily six inches long.   Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06

Labeninae subfamily

Ichneumon wasp (Labena grallator, Labenini tribe), Eno River State Park, 11/7/05.	Ichneumon wasp, Falls Lake State Park, Wake County, NC, 1/6/07.  Probably another L. grallator, but depleted of nutrients by winter conditions

Awaiting identification:

Ichneumon wasp, Durham, 10/28/05

Brachonid Wasps (family Brachonidae, superfamily Ichneumonoidea, suborder Apocrita)

Braconid wasp (Aleiodes politiceps), Durham, NC, 8/21/20.  ID thanks to Jonathan Hoskins.	Braconid wasp (Cremnops desertor), Durham, NC, 7/7/22	Braconid wasp, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/23/07.	Another braconid wasp, Durham, NC, 7/7/22	Braconid wasp (Atanycolus genus, Braconinae subfamily), Cypress Gardens, Berkeley County, SC, 10/12/07	Braconid wasp (Spathius genus, Doryctinae subfamily), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/16/07.  Genus ID thanks to Ross Hill.

Pelecinid Wasps (family Pelecinidae, superfamily Proctotrupoidea, infraorder Proctotrupomorpha, suborder Apocrita)

Pelecinid Wasp, Pelecinus polyturator, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 8/13/06	Pelecinid Wasp (Pelecinus polyturator), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/29/06

Chalcid Wasps (family Chalcididae, superfamily Chalcidoidea, infraorder Proctotrupomorpha, suborder Apocrita)

Chalcid wasp (Brachymeria flavipes), Durham, NC, 11/18/21

Eupelmid wasps (family Eupelmidae, superfamily Chalcidoidea, infraorder Proctotrupomorpha, suborder Aprocrita)

Male Eupelmid wasp (Eupelmus genus, Eupelminae subfamily), Durham, NC, 4/28/16	Male Eupelmid wasp (Brasema genus, Eupelminae subfamily) on a cattail leaf. Durham, NC, 9/28/16	Female Eupelmid wasp (Brasema rhadinosa). ID thanks to Jeong Yoo. Durham, NC, 5/19/21

Encyrtid Wasps (family Encyrtidae, superfamily Chalcidoidea, infraorder Proctotrupomorpha, suborder Apocrita)

Encyrtid wasp (Adelencyrtus  genus, Encyrtinae subfamily), Durham, NC, 12/10/21	Encyrtid wasp (Adelencyrtus genus, Encyrtinae subfamily). About 1 mm long. Durham, NC, 12/31/11.  Genus ID thanks to Bob Zuparko.	Encyrtid wasp (Anagyrus genus), Durham, NC, 3/17/20. ID thanks to John Schneider.

Eurytomid Wasps (family Eurytomidae, superfamily Chalcidoidea, infraorder Proctotrupomorpha, suborder Apocrita)

Eurytomid wasp, Durham, NC, 4/21/20.  ID thanks to Ross Hill.

Platygastrid wasps (family Platygastridae, superfamily Platygastroidea, infraorder Proctotrupomorpha, suborder Apocrita)

Platygastrid wasp (Trissolcus genus) checking out bug eggs, Durham, NC, 6/23/19. Genus ID thanks to Bob Zuparko.	Platygastrid wasp (Trissolcus genus), Durham, NC, 10/27/20

Gall Wasps (family Cynipidae, superfamily Cynipoidea, infraorder Proctotrupomorpha, suborder Apocrita)

Wool Sower Gall (Callirhytis seminator, tribe Cynipini, subfamily Cynipinae), Durham, NC, 4/19/09	Oak gall wasp (Disholcaspis genus), Durham, NC, 2/21/21.  But little information exists on the appearance of gall wasps of any species, since pictures of galls dominate its coverage.  ID thanks to Adam Kranz.	Oak gall wasp (Disholcaspis genus?), Durham, NC, 12/17/21	Oak gall wasp (Biorhiza caepulaeformis, Cynipini tribe). ID thanks to Adam Kranz.

More Parasitoid Wasps (family Figitidae, superfamily Cynipoidea, infraorder Proctotrupomorpha, suborder Apocrita)

Wasp, Eucoilinae subfamily.  Durham, NC, 12/16/21.  ID thanks to Bob Zuparko. Family ID thanks to Ross Hill.

Cuckoo Wasps (family Chrysididae, superfamily Chrysidoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

These wasps first appeared about 140 million years ago, during the early Cretaceous Period.

Cuckoo Wasp (possibly genus Holopyga), Duke Gardens, 9/17/05.  Chrysis seems to be most likely, however.  Prof. Johnson OKed this family ID.	Cuckoo Wasp, Ft. Fisher Aquarium (outside), New Hanover County, NC, 6/26/08

Vespid Wasps (family Vespidae, superfamily Vespoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

The Vespidae family evolved about 140 million years ago.

Vespinae subfamily

European Hornet (Vespa crabro)

Three European Hornets eating sap leaking from a tree root, Durham, NC, 7/20/23	Two European Hornets eating sap leaking from a tree root, Durham, NC, 7/20/23	European Hornet, Jordan Lake Gamelands, Chatham County, NC, 9/27/19	European Hornet, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/10/06

Yellow Jacket (Vespula vulgaris)

Female Yellow Jacket , Durham, NC, 1/14/13	Yellow Jackets mating, Durham, NC, 11/20/08.	Male Yellow Jacket.  Note how the male's abdominal markings differ from those of the female:  the male is mostly yellow, while the female is mostly black.

Bald-faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)

Bald-faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata), Durham, NC, 8/25/21	Bald-faced Hornet, Durham, NC, 7/28/23

Polistinae subfamily

Paper Wasps (Polistes annularis) at nest, Durham, NC, 3/31/20	Paper wasp (Polistes genus) on Pennsylvania Smartweed.  Durham, NC, 9/5/09.	Paper wasp (Polistes bahamensis), Durham, NC, 4/30/10	Paper wasp (Polistes genus), Southpoint Swamp, Durham, NC, 10/4/10

Eumeninae subfamily

Mason Wasp (Euodynerus schwarzi), Durham, NC, 5/7/20	Mason Wasp (Euodynerus schwarzi), Flat River Impoundment, Durham, NC, 8/15/10	Mason Wasps (Monobia quadridens), Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 5/18/11, mating with interloper	Potter Wasp (Eumenes fraternus), Durham, NC, 9/24/24	Potter Wasp (Eumenes fraternus), Durham, NC, 8/20/21	Potter Wasp (Eumenes fraternus), Durham, 9/28/09.  This wasp is apparently mimicked by the Sphiximorpha willistoni flower fly.	Potter Wasp, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/20/07.

Thynnid Wasps (family Thynnidae, superfamily Thynnioidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

Most of these are parasitoids, i.e., they lay their eggs within host animals.

Tiphiid wasps (Myzinum carolinianum), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 6/23/07, struggling to get into one little hole in the sand.	Thynnid wasp (Myzinum genus), Rauston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 7/12/12

Spider Wasps (family Pompilidae, superfamily Pompiloidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

The Pompilidae evolved about 105 million years ago.

Spider wasp (Psorthaspis mariae), Falls Lake Dam area, 9/11/10.  It successfully mimicked a velvet ant in its movements.	Spider wasp, very active but with a wing problem.  Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 7/18/11	Spider Wasp (Arachnospila genus), Johnston's Mill, Orange County, NC, 2/3/06	Spider Wasp in action, Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 4/28/06.  This wasp dragged this spider at least five feet while I watched.	Spider wasp attempting to drag a spider across pavement, Durham, NC, 5/13/08

Velvet Ants (family Mutillidae, superfamily Pompiloidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

These are parasitoids, i.e., females parasitize bee larvae by laying eggs on them.  They are generally considered to be wasps because of their behavior but their superfamily name implies that they aren't very distant relatives of ants!  The Cowkiller is named for its nasty sting, one informally hypothesized to be bad enough to kill a cow.

The Mutillidae family evolved relatively recently, about 45-70 million years ago.

Velvet ant (Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica). ID thanks to Jordan Gesell. Durham, NC, 6/7/15	Velvet ant (Timulla vagans), Durham, NC, 7/25/22	Velvet Ant (Timulla vagans).  The extra abdominal ring is an artifact of photography.  Third Fork Trail, Durham, NC, 7/14/11	Female Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla quadriguttata), White Pines Nature Preserve, Chatham County, NC, 4/16/06.  ID thanks to George Waldren.	Cowkiller (Dasymutilla occidentalis), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/1/07.  See other Hymenopterans (bees, wasps and ants).	Perhaps a Cowkiller, a velvet ant which is normally red and black.  It was hunched over, trying to hide. NOTE: the two small white spots which appear to be on this insect's back are actually on the ground: it has a typically skinny wasp waist. Carolina Beach State Park, 9/18/07	Velvet ant (Pseudomethoca simillima), Durham, NC, 9/26/11

Scoliid Wasps (genus Scolia, family Scoliidae, superfamily Scolioidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

Scoliid wasp (Scolia nobilitata) on Common Sneezeweed.  ID thanks to Brian Bockhahn.	Wasp (Scolia nobilitata), Durham, NC, 7/12/08.  NOTE: The ITIS does not list the species nobilitata.	Scoliid wasp (Scolia nobilitata), Durham, NC, 6/9/22	Wasp (Scolia dubia), Greenville, Pitt County, NC, 9/20/08	Wasp (Campsomeris plumipes), Fayetteville, NC, 7/16/08.  This was a big wasp, about an inch long.   Photo by Kathryn Cox.	Wasp (Campsomeris genus), Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines, Moore County, NC, 10/31/14	Scoliid wasp (Dielis plumipes fossulana), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 4/2/14. ID thanks to Jonathan Hoskins

Ants (family Formicidae, superfamily Formicoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita

Ants communicate with one another using pheromones, organic compounds which range from simple hydrocarbons called unbranched alkanes to somewhat more complex alkenes, each containing an oxygen atom.

The Formicidae family evolved about 140 million years ago.

Slavemaking Ants (Formica subintegra, Formicinae subfamily)

Social Parasitism in Ants

Slavemaking ant (Formica subintegra), carrying Formica subsericea ant captive.  ID thanks to James C. Trager.  One of a fast-moving colony.

Small Ants (Nylanderia Faisonensis, subfamily Formicinae)

Leaving a rather flat watering can on its side and turning it over every few days can produce surprising revelations of what normally goes on underground.   Ant larvae are unusual in that their limbs and wings are still developing (and somewhat visible), and the pupa stage in this species seems to be a brown-colored later part of the larva stage.  These ants quickly returned underground afterwards.

You can see some brown pupae; the one on the right has adult features showing through.  However, you can see developing legs on the white larvae.	Winged ants, also walking on larvae.

Yellow Ants (Acanthomyops interjectus, tribe Lasiini, subfamily Formicinae)

Winged Yellow Ants, Durham, 5/31/06.  The queens are brown, while the workers are yellow.	These winged Yellow Ants came up out of the ground, crawled up plants in this meadow and flew into the air.  Southern Village, Orange County, NC, 11/13/07	Yellow Ant, with a red parasite egg on its right hind leg	Winged ant being attacked by a tiny wasp? Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 3/9/10

Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) tending aphids, Durham, NC, 4/25/08. This ant was actually horizontal in the photo: rotation in the thumbnail is due to a glitch in the software.

No common name (Pseudomyrmex ejectus, Pseudomyrmecini tribe, Pseudomyrmecinae subfamily)

Ant (Pseudomyrmex ejectus), Durham, NC, 2/25/21

 Unknown Ants

Johnston's Mill, Orange County, NC, 2/3/06.  This ant was wandering around rocks in New Hope Creek.	Worker ant subduing a winged termite, Occoneechee Mountain Natural Area, Orange County, NC, 4/9/06	Worker ant carrying a larva.

Thread-waisted Wasps (family Sphecidae, superfamily Apoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

The Sphecidae first appeared about 140 million years ago.

Ammophila genus

Ammophila pictipennis,  Raulston Arboretum, Wake County, NC, 9/23/05.	Ammophila pictipennis, Greenville, Pitt County, NC, 9/20/08	Thread-waisted wasp (Ammophila genus) and two small weevils on Common Sneezeweed, Flat River Impoundment, Durham County, NC, 7/17/11	Grass-carrying Wasp (Isodontia genus), Durham, NC, 7/7/08, trying to access nectar of Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) flower buds.

Eremnophila genus

Eremnophila aureonotata, Durham, NC, 8/31/20	Eremnophila aureonotata, Durham, NC, 9/2/09	Mating thread-waisted wasps (Eremnophila aureonotata), Durham, NC, 9/4/20	Eremnophila aureonotata, mating pair, Durham, 7/28/03.  Thanks to Josh Rose for genus and species ID.

Prionyx genus

Thread-waisted wasp (Prionyx genus, Prionchini tribe, Sphecinae subfamily), Greenville, Pitt County, NC, 9/20/08

Palmodes genus

Thread-waisted Wasp (Palmodes dimidiatus), perhaps resting.  Ft. Fisher Basin Trail, New Hanover County, NC, 5/24/11.

Digger Wasps (Sphex genus)

Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus), Durham, NC, 9/22/21	Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus), Durham, NC, 8/20/22	Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus), Durham, NC, 8/11/22	Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex icheumoneus), Durham, NC, 7/1/19, digging near the entrance of its nest in the ground.	Great Black Digger Wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus), Durham, NC, 8/14/22	Digger wasp (Sphex jamaicensis) about to enter nest, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, Lee County, FL, 2/23/19. ID thanks to Ken Wolgemuth.	Another digger wasp (Sphex jamaicensis) struggling against leaf to get into nest, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, Lee County, FL, 2/23/19	Golden-reined Digger Wasp (Sphex habenus), Durham, NC, 8/20/21

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Wasp (Sceliphron caementarium)

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Wasp (Sceliphron caementarium) digging a hole at Jordan Lake, Chatham County, NC, 6/15/17

Bee Wolves and Sand Wasps (family Crabronidae, superfamily Apoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

Bee Wolves (Philanthus gibbosus, Philanthinae subfamily)

Bee wolf (Philanthus gibbosus), Durham, NC, 8/27/19	Bee wolf (Philanthus gibbosus), NC Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 8/28/06.  This is a predator of halictid bees.

Sand Wasps (Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus, Bembicini tribe, Bembicinae subfamily)

Four-Banded Stink Bug Wasp (Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus) facing toward nest, Durham, NC, 7/28/20	Four-Banded Stink Bug Wasp (Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus), Durham, NC 81422

Cicada Killers (Sphecius speciosus, Handlirschiina subgenus, Bembicini tribe, Bembicinae subfamily)

Cicada Killer , Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach, Carteret County, NC, 8/25/16	Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus, Handlirschiina subgenus, Bembicini tribe, Bembicinae subfamily), Durham, NC, 8/1/08	Cicada Killer, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 7/1/08

Square-headed Wasps (Rhopalum genus, Crabroninae subfamily)

Square-headed wasp (Rhopalum genus), in the Crabronidae family, Durham, NC, 2/24/21.  ID thanks to Bob Biagi.

Bees ((unranked) Anthophila, superfamily Apoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

Many members of this group are tiny solitary bees much smaller than honeybees.  Solitary bees are those whose females are all genetically capable of reproducing.  They are frequently found together with Large Bee Flies (Bombylius major), which parasitize their larvae.  Social bees, those that live in colonies that each rely on a single queen bee for reproduction, include the Honeybees, Bumblebees, Stingless Bees (not pictured), and some Sweat Bees (which have small colonies and minimal size differences between queens and workers).

Bees may not be the most common pollinators, but they are the most significant economically because they are the most efficient, in part because of their special pollen-gathering hairs and "pollen baskets" which carry large amounts of pollen.

Performing formal identifications of solitary bees from photos is hard because they are so closely related, and therefore such identifications depend heavily on very small details, such as wing venation.   In some cases one can distinguish the long-tongued bees (the Megachilidae and the familiar Apidae) from the short-tongued bees (the Colletidae, Halictidae, Andrenidae, Strenotridae, and Melittidae) by the types of flowers that they visit.

John S. Ascher, Ph.D. provided identifications and background information for a large proportion of the bees and wasps pictured below, making a major contribution to the quality of this website.   If errors remain, however, they may represent mistakes I have made in my interpretation of the information he has offered.

Bee Phylogeny at Cornell University provides detailed descriptions of recent bee phylogeny research using morphological, DNA, and fossil data.

Sweat Bees (Halictidae family, (unranked) Anthophila, superfamily Apoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

These are short-tongued bees, which these photos illustrate: they prefer composite flowers and "flat" individual ones.  They are called "sweat bees" because of their reputation for landing on people and drinking their sweat.

Some of these bees are social, living in small colonies, i.e., with less than a dozen members.  There is a lot of diversity in this respect, so they are of special interest to evolutionary biologists.

Maybe a sweat bee, Durham, NC, 8/28/18	Sweat Bee (Augochlorini tribe), Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, 5/29/05.   This green bee is one of the most obvious members of this family; however, most Halictidae are not green, although they are less hairy than other bees.	Sweat bee (Augochlorini tribe), Durham, NC, 7/1/08	Sweat bee (Augochlorini tribe), Durham, 9/28/06	Sweat bee (Augochlorini tribe), Indian Creek Trail, a Jordan Lake Game Land, Chatham County, NC, 7/7/06

Halictid bee (subgenus Dialictus, Lasioglossum genus, Halictini tribe, Halictinae subfamily), Indian Creek Wildlife Observation Trail, Chatham County, NC, 4/5/06.  This flower was about ⅓ inch across.	Female Halictid bee (Lasioglossum genus), White Pines Nature Preserve, Chatham County, NC, 4/16/06.  This bee was about ¼ inch long.  The tiny fly was barely visible to me without the camera's magnifying lens.	Halictid bee (Lasioglossum genus, Durham, 5/3/05.

Sweat bee,  Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06	Sweat bee,  Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06	Sweat bee,  Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06

Female Halictid Bees (Agapostemon virescens), Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC, 7/31/06.

Mining Bees (Andrenidae family, (unranked) Anthophila, superfamily Apoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

These are short-tongued bees solitary bees, although they apparently build their nests in holes in the ground close to one another in the early spring when pollen is first available.  As is the case with all flower-visiting bees, they have long hairs over many parts of their bodies.

Andrena genus, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 3/16/06.  This was a member of a very fast-moving cluster of bees near the ground on a wooded trail.  This bee seemed ill or injured, otherwise this photo would have been impossible to take!  This bee was about ½ inch long.

Plasterer Bees (Colletidae family, (unranked) Anthophila, superfamily Apoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

Plasterer Bee (Colletes thoracicus), Durham, NC, 3/9/07.  This bee wandered onto the asphalt path, apparently unable to fly because of what seemed to be clay on its thorax.	Two Plasterer Bees (Colletes thoracicus), Durham, NC, 3/18/09	Plasterer Bees (Colletes thoracicus), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 3/14/08.	Plasterer Bee (Colletes inaequalis, right) with nest, in right bottom of this photo.  Nags Head Woods, Kill Devil Hills, Dare County, NC, 2/18/11

Plasterer bee, hovering near nest entrance.  She crawled in and out of it several times.  Durham, NC, 3/18/11	Plasterer bee entering nest

Mason Bees and Leafcutter Bees (Megachilidae family, (unranked) Anthophila, superfamily Apoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

These are long-tongued bees, able to visit longer, skinnier flowers.  Members of the Megachile genus do the leaf-cutting, as shown in the first two photos.  Some of these bees are actually parasites and are therefore not either masons or leafcutters; however, since they share this characteristic with members of other families, this description is not included in the accepted common name for this family. 

Leafcutter Bees (Megachile genus)

There was a large group of such bees in the location I found those two, mostly hidden under a clump of wild grape vines, buzzing very loudly.  Note the yellow pollen pocket on the abdomen underside, a unique Megachilid characteristic.

Leafcutter bee (Megachile genus) on an aster at the North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, NC, 9/30/11	Leafcutter bee on ironweed, Durham, NC, 9/30/15	Leafcutter bee (Megachile genus), apparently in the process of leaf-cutting at the Eno River State Park, Durham County, NC, 8/17/08 in a power line cut.	Female Megachilid bee (Megachile genus) on a Purple False Foxglove, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 10/13/06

Megachilid bee (Megachile xylocopoides, family Megachilidae), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 10/19/05.  Unlike the other bees on this page, this one was large, perhaps an inch long.  Thanks to Eric Eaton for ID info.	Megachile texana, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 7/12/10.  ID thanks to John S. Ascher.	Leafcutter bee Megachile texana, Durham, NC, 7/23/23

Coelioxys genus

These are kleptoparasites or "cuckoo" bees, i.e., they lay their eggs in other Megachilidae family members' nests to be raised by unsuspecting adults.

Bee (Coelioxys mexicana), Buccaneer State Park, Waveland, Hancock County, MS, 10/15/10.  First expert-identified photo of this species on BugGuide, on this page.	Female Megachilid bee (Coelioxys modesta), NC Botanical Garden, 7/2/05.  Thanks to Eric Eaton for ID.

Most Bees (Apidae family, (unranked) Anthophila, superfamily Apoidea, (unranked) Aculeata, suborder Apocrita)

Nomadinae subfamily

Nomada genus

These female Nomada genus bees are long-tongued bees.  According to Dr. John S. Ascher, most Nomada species are kleptoparasites of bees in the genus Andrena, laying their eggs in Andrena nests, while other Nomada species are cleptoparasites of bees in the Agapostemon genus. 

Cuckoo Bee (Nomada ruficornis), North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, Orange County, NC, 4/23/15	Cuckoo Bee (Nomada ruficornis), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/22/09.  ID thanks to John S. Ascher.  Full ID: BugGuide page.	Nomad bee (Nomada articulata), Durham, NC, 6/9/22	Nomad bee (Nomada articulata), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/20/07.   This bee was in frantic motion.	Nomad bee (Nomada articulata), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 5/7/07.

Triepeolus genus

Cuckoo bee (Triepeolus genus).  Tip of the tongue is visible.  Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/19/11	Same Cuckoo bee (Triepeolus genus).

Carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica), Durham, NC, 4/18/18	Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Museum of Life and Science grounds, Durham, NC, 4/23/09	Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Durham, NC, 3/21/20	Small carpenter bee (Ceratina genus, Zadontomerus subgenus), on a Smooth Coneflower, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/30/06.	Little carpenter bee (Ceratina genus, Zadontomerus subgenus). ID thanks to John S. Ascher.	Small carpenter bee (Ceratina genus, Zadontomerus subgenus), Durham, NC, 6/15/23

Apinae subfamily

European Honeybee (Apis mellifera), Durham, NC, 9/13/20 European Honeybee (Apis mellifera), Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 3/17/06. European Honeybee. Durham, NC, 10/21/09 European Honeybee, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 7/21/07. The pollen of this moss rose was enough to cover several bees.

Long-horned bee (Melissodes genus), Durham, NC, 6/29/20	Long-horned bee (Eumelissodes subgenus, Melissodes genus, Eucerini tribe),  Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/7/06	Long-horned bee (Eucerini tribe), Durham, 9/20/08

Bumblebees (genus Bombus, tribe Bombini)

Bumble Bee on thistle, Flat River Impoundment, Durham County, NC, 8/5/11	Bumblebee on an aster, Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines, Moore County, NC, 10/31/14