The Great Sunflower Project

Hoplitis - mason bee (family Megachilidae)

Genus summary: Hoplitis is a genus that occurs in both the New World and Old World with about 325 species total. 55 species are limited to the Americas (Michener 2000), and 6 are known from New York State (Danforth & Magnacca 2002).
Floral relationships: Hoplitis fly primarily in the spring. Most species are generalist foragers. However, many Hoplitis species favor the Fabaceae (pea family) or the tubular flowers of mints and Scrophs.

Nesting habits: Hoplitis are solitary tunnel nesters. They use a variety of nest sites, including pithy stems, holes in wood, nests of other insects in the soil, or above-ground nests of mud-dauber wasps [gretch]. Like other genera within the subfamily Megachilinae, Hoplitis collect nest-lining materials from outside the nest. Hoplitis are known to make nest partitions with chewed leaves, and pebbles or bits of wood (Michener 2000, O’Toole & Raw 1999).

Diagnostic characteristics: Hoplitis are slender to robust bees between 0.2 to 0.6 inches long (Michener 2000). They are often black, but some species have a red abdomen with pale bands of hair; a few species are metallic (Michener 2000). Hoplitis females carry dry pollen in scopa (brush of hairs) on the underside of the abdomen rather than on their hind legs like most other bees (O’Toole & Raw 1999). This is characteristic of all females in the family Megachilidae, which also includes Anthidium, Osmia, and Megachile.

Similar taxa:

Known conservation concerns: Hoplitis.orthognathus and Hoplitis producta subgracilis are endemic to the Columbia Basin and have very limited ranges H.orthognathus has only been recorded in three locations. The two species are listed as Vulnerable on the Xerces Society Red List of Pollinator Insects (Shepherd 2005).

Interesting Fact:

Additional resources:

Key to Eastern Hoplitis at Discover Life