The Washington Bee Atlas is a WSDA Pollinator Program project that works with citizen scientists to identify and map the ranges of existing native bee species across the state. Understanding the identity and geographic distribution of bees in Washington is a critical first step toward effective native pollinator conservation. Bees in many counties in Washington, particularly more rural places on the east side of the Cascades, are understudied. (Here is an annotated checklist of the bees in Washington State).
While conducting her graduate research in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Dr. Maust collected 100 bee species that were not previously documented in Chelan County. The discovery of 25 new and rare bee species in just one year highlights both the effectiveness of the Washington Bee Atlas and the need for increased sampling across the state. Systematic documentation of regional bee faunas is essential to effectively monitor ecosystem health and provide a foundation for detecting declines in bee biodiversity.
Most recently, as a volunteer with the Washington Bee Atlas, Dr. Maust recorded the first records of eight native bee species in Chelan County within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
8 native bee species newly recorded in Chelan County
Scientific Name
Common Name
Year the species was originally described
Atoposmia abjecta abjecta Cresson
Castaway Mason Bee
1878
Coelioxys funerarius Smith
Funeral Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee
1854
Dianthidium cressonii Dalla Torre
Pebble Bee
1896
Dianthidium singulare Cresson
Singular Pebble Bee
1879
Dufourea dilatipes Bohart
Mariposa Lily Shortface Bee
1948
Melissodes nigracauda LaBerge
Long-horned Bee
1961
Osmia cyaneonitens Cockerell
Blue Shining Mason Bee
1906
Stelis heronae Sheffield
Heron’s Cuckoo Carder Bee
2024
Female Coelioxys funerarius
Female Coelioxys funerarius or Funeral Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee. A. Lateral view, clypeus convex, slightly outcurved margin. B. Face, frontal and lateral view. Axilla visible. C. Dorsal view, fasciae on the scutum absent. D. Face, frontal view. Scale is approximate.
Female Dianthidium cressonii
Female Dianthidium cressonii or Pebble Bee. A. Face, frontal view. B. Abdomen, dorsal view of T6. C. Abdomen, dorsal view of terga I–V. D. Lateral view. Black with yellow pubescence. Strong yellow maculations. Large, approximately 11 mm. E. Dorsal view, segment T2 three-spotted. Scale is approximate.
Female Dufourea dilatipes
Female Dufourea dilatipes or Mariposa Lily Shortface Bee. A. Face, frontal view. Clypeus long. B. Lateral view, brown body pubescence C. Dorsal view, propodeal triangle dull. Mesoscutellum densely punctate. D. Dorsal view. Scale is approximate.
Female Melissodes nigracauda
Female Melissodes nigracauda or long-horned bee. A. Face, frontal view. B. Body, lateral view. Vestiture of the head, abdomen, and sides of the thorax dark brown to black. Scopa brown to black. C. Thorax, dorsal view. Dorsum of thorax ochraceous to slightly rufescent. D. Abdomen, dorsal view. Apical edges of tergites impunctate. E. Abdomen, dorsal view. Pygidial plate triangular. Scale is approximate.
Female Melissodes nigracauda
Female Osmia cyaneonitens or the Blue Shining Mason Bee. A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Face, frontal view. Coarse punctures and proclinate bristles on the face, mandibles wide apically. D. Face, lateral view. High projection of the hypostomal carina.
Female Atoposmia abjecta abjecta
Female Atoposmia abjecta abjecta or Castaway Mason Bee. A. Face, frontal view. B. Mesoscutum, coarsely punctured. The central part with punctures separated by >2 puncture widths extending out to the parapsidal lines. C. Lateral view, scopa brownish black. D. Abdomen, lateral view. Scale is approximate.
Female Dianthidium singulare Cresson
Female Dianthidium singulare Cresson or Singular Pebble Bee. A. Face, frontal view. B. Mesoscutum, coarsely punctured. The central part with punctures separated by >2 puncture widths extending out to the parapsidal lines. C. Lateral view, scopa brownish black. D. Abdomen, lateral view. Scale is approximate.
Female Stelis heronae
Female Stelis heronae or the Heron’s Cuckoo Carder Bee. A. Lateral view, left. B. Face, frontal view. Clypeus entirely black. C. Abdomen, dorsal view. Pale maculations on terga I–IV. D. Ocelli, frons, vertex. Dorsal view. Ocelli normal sized. Upper frons and vertex densely punctate. Pronotal lobe and tegula black. Scale is approximate.
