Hoplitis

Taxonomy

Hoplitis albifrons, commonly known as the white-fronted mason bee, is a solitary bee species belonging to the genus Hoplitis, within the family Megachilidae. They are closely related to other mason bees and share similar habitats. While other Hoplitis species can be found in Asia and Europe, H. albifrons has a geographic distribution spanning British Columbia to Maine and Nova Scotia, north to Hudson Bay and Alaska. 

Description

Hoplitis albifrons is smaller-sized bee ranging from 9-13mm long. In females, the body is entirely black. The face is longer than the distance between the eyes. The clypeus is broadly rounded with a strongly curved outward edge. The mandibles have four teeth. Wings are clear at the base, darkening toward the tips. The legs of this species are also black with the front spurs being partly transparent. Hair is mostly pale around antennae and somewhat darker elsewhere. Abdominal segments 1-2 have pale hair, 3-6 mostly black. Punctures are fine and close together on head and thorax, becoming more spaced on the thorax. Abdominal segments are shiny with small punctures, closer toward the sides. Males have of this species look like the females except their mandible have two teeth and their abdomens lack distinct bands with hair on each segment being thin. 

Nest Structure

Like other mason bee species, Hoplitis albifrons builds nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems and abandoned beetle galleries. H. albifrons is known to use leaf pulp in addition to mud to create their nesting cells. We had one nest in the MN Bee Atlas project, in an Asclepias incarnata stem, and small pebbles were used throughout the nest and in the nest plug. 

Hole Sizes

No information at this time.

Voltinism

This species appears to be univoltine throughout its range, completing one generation per year in Minnesota. 

Activity Period

No information at this time.

References

Discover Life (2024) Hoplitis albifrons. Available at: https://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?search=Hoplitis+albifrons (Accessed May 14, 2024).

Gardner, J. "Minnesota Bee Atlas: Native Bees." University of Minnesota Extension. Accessed May 2024. https://apps.extension.umn.edu/environment/citizen-science/bee-atlas/docs/native-bees-Joel-Gardner.pdf