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Digger bees (flower-bearer bees)

Anthophora spp.

Digger bees (flower-bearer bees)

Nesting Preference

Solitary ground nesters; typically nest in soil (flat ground or banks); often form nesting aggregations.

Active Time of Year

Often spring through summer (species-dependent).

Species in Genus (Oregon/Global)

450 species

Favorite Flowers

  • Penstemon spp. (penstemons)
  • Salvia spp. (sages)
  • Phacelia tanacetifolia (lacy phacelia)

Anthophora are fast, purposeful bees with the energy of a miniature hummingbird at flowers, especially on tubular blooms where their strong flight and quick handling shine. Many species are solitary, but you may see them nesting in loose neighborhoods where the soil is just right.

They typically dig nests in the ground, sometimes in banks or compacted faces, and provision their young in individual brood cells. If you notice a patch of soil with repeated bee traffic in spring, Anthophora (or their relatives) are often worth considering.

Solitary wasp

A solitary wasp has no colony of workers helping raise her young. A female may stock her own nest cells with food, or find a host for her developing offspring. Solitary describes social life; parasitoid describes a feeding strategy. A wasp can be both.

Social wasp

Social wasps share a nest and cooperate in raising young. In yellowjacket and paper wasp colonies, reproductive females lay eggs and workers help feed the brood and maintain the nest. They can defend that nest, so observing a forager is different from approaching a colony.

Non-native Social wasp

This is a social wasp introduced beyond its natural range. In this case the European paper wasp was introduced to North America from Europe, probably hidden in shipping materials. Non-native describes its origin, while social describes colony life.