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Yellow-faced bees (masked bees)

Hylaeus spp.

Yellow-faced bees (masked bees)

Nesting Preference

Solitary cavity nesters; typically use existing tunnels/holes in wood or stems; line cells with a cellophane-like secretion; carry pollen internally.

Active Time of Year

Spring through summer (varies widely by species).

Species in Genus (Oregon/Global)

500 species

Favorite Flowers

  • Holodiscus discolor (oceanspray)
  • Daucus carota (wild carrot / Queen Anne's lace)
  • Achillea millefolium (yarrow)

Hylaeus are the bees that borrowed a wasp's wardrobe: small, slender, and relatively hairless, often with yellow facial markings. One of their signature quirks is how they transport pollen, carrying it internally rather than in external pollen baskets or brushes.

They nest in existing cavities, including hollow stems and holes in wood, and they line brood cells with a waterproof, cellophane-like material. That combination of cavity nesting and subtle appearance means they can be common without being conspicuous, a quiet subplot running through summer flowers.

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.