Digger Bees
What are they?
Hairy, slender-bodied bees that are often both solitary, and yet social. That is to say, pairs will form and tend separate nest locations, but these nests are often clustered close to each other, giving the impression that they are behaving socially.
Identification
Medium-sized, hairy bees that are usually predominantly blackish in color, but often with areas of paler color, especially on the thorax.
Hibisicus Bee Ptilothrix bombiformis
Length: 12.5-17.5mm. These bee makes vertical tunnels in sandy soil, often on sandy trails where they may appear threatening. However, they are docile bees, like the majority in there group. The tunnels (if left undisturbed) usually have low turrets at the entrance. Hibiscus Bees favor collecting pollen from Swamp Rose Mallow plants and can be particularly common in areas where these grow, but they will also collect pollen from a handful of other flowering plants. They closely resemble bumble bees in general appearance but are a little smaller and narrower-bodied. Most often seen hovering busily cose to the ground near their nesting burrows during July and August.
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