Yellow-faced Bees – Hylaeus

The visibly hairless tiny yellow-faced bee is easily confused for a wasp. Unlike other bees, they do not carry pollen and nectar externally, but internally. They have a special stomach–like pouch in their digestive system called a crop. This mixture is regurgitated when they return to their brood chambers.

Yellow faced bee on an angelica flower

These solitary bees nest in existing tunnels in wood, or in stems and twigs. The females line their nests with cellophane-like material, as do polyester bees.

Their small size makes them the ideal pollinator of small flowers. Look for them on small flowers of the parsley family like cilantro or wild carrot.

Yellow faced bee on goldenrod