"Hymenoptera" means "Membrane-wing".

Bees have two pairs of membranous wings. This section includes those families that are most commonly identified as bees, although technically it is more complex and the line between bee and wasp is no longer viewed as a true scientific distinction.

"Bees are alright when alive you see,
But when bees die you really should see 'em
Pinned on a card in a mucky museum."
~From the Bee Song

Cellophane bee - Colletes selvini

4 photos
Cellophane bee - Colletes selvini

Cellophane bee 2 - Colletes sp.?

2 photos
Cellophane bee 2 - Colletes sp.?

Masked bee - Hylaeus sp.

13 photos
Masked bee - Hylaeus sp.

Mining bee 1 - Andrena sp.

7 photos
Mining bee 1  - Andrena sp.

Peridot bee - Augochlorella pomoniella

1 photos
Peridot bee - Augochlorella pomoniella

Honey-tailed Striped-Sweat Bee - Agapostemon melliventri

2 photos
Honey-tailed Striped-Sweat Bee - Agapostemon melliventri

Texas Striped Sweat Bee - Agapostemon texanus

3 photos
Texas Striped Sweat Bee - Agapostemon texanus

Sweat bee 1 - Agapostemon sp.

22 photos
Sweat bee 1 - Agapostemon sp.

Sweat bee - Halictus ligatus

23 photos
Sweat bee - Halictus ligatus

Sweat bee - Halictus tripartitus

7 photos
Sweat bee - Halictus tripartitus

Sweat bee - Halictus farinosus

2 photos
Sweat bee - Halictus farinosus

Sweat bee 2 - Halictus sp.

10 photos
Sweat bee 2 - Halictus sp.

Sweat bee 5 - Halictus sp.

3 photos
Sweat bee 5 - Halictus sp.

Sweat bee 3 - Lasioglossum sp. (Subgenus Dialictus )

7 photos
Sweat bee 3 - Lasioglossum sp. (Subgenus Dialictus )

Sweat bee 4 - Unidentifed sp.

3 photos
Sweat bee 4 - Unidentifed sp.

Mason bee - Osmia sp.

2 photos
Mason bee - Osmia sp.

Mason bee - Osmia sp.

2 photos
Mason bee - Osmia sp.

Leafcutter bee - Megachile spp.

38 photos
Leafcutter bee  - Megachile spp.

Sonoran bumble bee - Bombus sonorus

36 photos
Sonoran bumble bee - Bombus sonorus

Yellow-faced bumble bee - Bombus (Pyrobombus) vosnesenskii

22 photos
Yellow-faced bumble bee - Bombus (Pyrobombus) vosnesenskii

California bumble bee - Bombus californicus

8 photos
California bumble bee - Bombus californicus

Black-tailed bumble bee - Bombus melanopygus

14 photos
Black-tailed bumble bee - Bombus melanopygus

Crotch's Bumble Bee - Bombus crotchii

8 photos
Crotch's Bumble Bee - Bombus crotchii

Valley carpenter bee - Xylocopa sonorina

46 items
Valley carpenter bee - Xylocopa sonorina

Valley carpenter bee - Xylocopa varipuncta (Female)

11 photos
Valley carpenter bee - Xylocopa varipuncta (Female)

Small carpenter bee - Ceratina sp. (Subgenus Zadontomerus)

6 photos
Small carpenter bee - Ceratina sp. (Subgenus Zadontomerus)

Digger bee- Anthophora urbana

14 photos
Digger bee- Anthophora urbana

California Digger Bee - Anthophora californica

2 photos
California Digger Bee - Anthophora californica

Short sun-digger bee - Anthophora curta

3 photos
Short sun-digger bee - Anthophora curta

Squash bee - Peponapis pruinosa

5 photos
Squash bee - Peponapis pruinosa

Long-horned bee 1 - Melissodes communis alopex

5 photos
Long-horned bee 1 - Melissodes communis alopex

Long-horned bee - Melissodes spp.

11 photos
Long-horned bee - Melissodes spp.

Sunflower bee - Svastra obliqua ssp. obliqua

3 photos
Sunflower bee - Svastra obliqua ssp. obliqua

Chimney bee - Diadasia spp.

11 photos
Chimney bee - Diadasia  spp.

Cuckoo bee - Nomada sp.

1 photos
Cuckoo bee - Nomada sp.

Western honey bee - Apis mellifera

47 photos
Western honey bee - Apis mellifera