| Colletes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Colletes hederae | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Colletidae |
| Subfamily: | Colletinae |
| Genus: | Colletes Latreille, 1802 [1] |
| Species | |
over 450 | |
The genus Colletes (plasterer bees or cellophane bees) is a large group of ground-nesting bees of the family Colletidae. They occur primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, although have a broad distribution except for Australasia and Antarctica. [2] They tend to be solitary, but sometimes nest close together in aggregations. Species in the genus build cells in underground nests that are lined with a cellophane-like plastic secretion, a true polyester, [3] earning them the nickname polyester bees. [4]
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As of 2012 [update] there were about 469 described species, and an estimated total around 700. [5] They occur throughout the world except in Antarctica, Australia, Madagascar, and Southeast Asia. [5] There are about 60 species in Europe [5] and about 100 in North America north of Mexico. [6]
