First records of eight native bee species (Hymenoptera Anthophila) in Washington USA

Authors: MAUST, AUTUMN - University Of Washington; GARDNER, JOEL - Washington State University; WRIGHT, KAREN - Washington Department Of Agriculture; Griswold, Terry; TOBIN, PATRICK - University Of Washington

Submitted to: Check List
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2025
Publication Date: 3/14/2025
Citation: Maust, A., Gardner, J., Wright, K.W., Griswold, T.L., Tobin, P.C. 2025. First records of eight native bee species (Hymenoptera Anthophila) in Washington USA. Check List. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17030212.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/d17030212

Interpretive Summary: The bees of northern Washington are poorly known. Declines in insects including native bees have been documented across the world. This is of concern since bees are necessary for many agricultural crops to diverse plants in natural areas. Knowing which native bees go to which plants is important to protect the native fauna and flora. Here we record bee species from Chelan County, Washington. The list includes the first records of eight bee species that have not been previously known to be in Washington.

Technical Abstract: Declines in insect populations have been globally documented and are a major conservation concern. Among these insects, native bees are critical for angiosperm reproduction in agricultural and natural systems. Despite this importance, there is a lack of understanding regarding the distribution of native bee species across western North American landscapes. Furthermore, some rare, native pollinators are oligolectic. Thus, understanding specific plant-pollinator relationships is critical for successful conservation and preservation of native flora and fauna in the North American west. Here we present records from Chelan County, Washington including eight bee species new to the state.