The Colletidae are a family of bees, and are often referred to collectively as plasterer bees or polyester bees, due to the method of smoothing the walls of their nest cells with secretions applied with their mouthparts; these secretions dry into a cellophane-like lining. The five subfamilies, 54 genera, and over 2000 species are all evidently solitary, though many nest in aggregations. Two of the subfamilies, Euryglossinae and Hylaeinae, lack the external pollen-carrying apparatus that otherwise characterizes most bees, and instead carry the pollen in their crops. These groups, and most genera in this family, have liquid or semiliquid pollen masses on which the larvae develop.
The genus Colletes is a large group of ground-nesting bees of the family Colletidae. They occur primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. 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, earning them the nickname polyester bees.
Colletes simulans is a species in the family Colletidae, in the order Hymenoptera. The species is known generally as the "spine-shouldered cellophane bee". It is found in North America.
Colletes thoracicus, the rufous-chested cellophane bee, is a species of cellophane or plasterer, masked, or fork-tongued bee in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes latitarsis, the broad-footed cellophane bee, is a species of cellophane or plasterer, masked, and fork-tongued bees in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes susannae is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes slevini, or Slevin's cellophane bee, is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes howardi is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes validus, colloquially known as the blueberry cellophane bee, is a solitary, specialist bee in the family Colletidae. It is found primarily in eastern North America where it nests in sandy soils near ericaceous plants.
Colletes solidaginis, the goldenrod cellophane bee, is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes bryanti is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes hyalinus is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes fulgidus is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes aberrans is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes tectiventris is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Colletes kincaidii, or Kincaid's cellophane bee, is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Ptiloglossa mexicana is a species of nocturnal bee in the family Colletidae. It is found from Central America north to Texas.
Colletes ochraceus is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America.
Hylaeus graenicheri is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It is found in North America. The species is one of five in the family Colletidae that are endemic to Florida, and is only found in the southern portion of the state.
Hylaeus hyalinatus is a species of hymenopteran in the family Colletidae. It can be found in Europe, including Great Britain. It is an invasive species in North America.
