Native Bees of New Mexico

Flowering plants rely on bees, and native bees are especially effective at pollination. New Mexico is a hotspot for native bees, hosting over 1,000 species. Most of these bees are solitary and non-aggressive. They very rarely sting; some even lack stingers. Even the non-native honeybee typically stings only when threatened.

Our native bees vary in size and shape; some can be mistaken for flies or wasps. The tiny Fairy bee, Perdita minima, less than 1/8 of an inch long (under 2mm), is one of the smallest bees in the world. The largest bee in New Mexico is the Western Carpenter, Xylocopa californica, measuring up to an inch long (25mm). Native bees can be fuzzy or smooth, and they come in a variety of colors, including metallic green or blue; others are striped.

Nesting

About 70 percent of our native bees are ground-nesters, digging tunnels in sunny, often south-facing, well-drained slopes that are bare or sparsely vegetated. Other species nest in cavities by using hollow plant stems, pithy twigs, or pre-existing beetle holes in dead wood. Bumblebees live in small colonies in abandoned rodent burrows, shaded cavities, or beneath bunchgrasses.

Landscaping with a variety of native plants is an excellent way to create a welcoming environment for beneficial insects, including native bees. Keep dead stalks, leaves, and bare soil in the garden for overwintering and nesting sites. Avoid using pesticides.

We are still learning about native bees, including the discovery of new species. Some bees are generalists, while others are flower specialists that feed their young pollen from only one or two plant species.

 

Community Science Opportunities

Help Bumble Bees

The Xerces Society is launching the New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas, a community science opportunity. They will use capture, photograph, and release methods, and provide training and species identification. The goal is to learn more about which habitats our bumble bees use and which flowers they depend on. Learn more here: New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas.

There is a virtual training on April 16th and in-person training in Albuquerque on May 9th and in Las Cruces on May 16th.

 

Help Ground-Nesting Bees

The Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability has a global community science initiative called Project Ground-Nesting Bee (GNBee). Ground-nesting bees are understudied, and community observations are important. This will support conservation efforts and help protect these pollinators. The project is ongoing, with observations taking place from early Spring through late Summer. You can learn more and join this effort here:  https://www.gnbee.org/.

 

Photos on this page by Elroy Limmer. Photo on home page by Margie Gibson.