Bindweed Turret Bee (Diadasia bituberculata) 

This West Coast ground nesting bee loves to build itself a chimney-esque studio apartment. These little tubelike structures potentially protect the solitary bee from predators like bee flies. And as its highly literal name suggests, this species of turret bee specializes in visiting bindweed and morning glories, carrying pollen on its hind legs. 

Fine Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon subtilior)

Potentially an underdog, the fine striped sweat bee is one of two sweat bees on the list of candidates. This strikingly green bee loves to nest in solitary underground burrows. Females are all green, while males have yellow and black stripes on their abdomen. 

California Bumble Bee (Bombus californicus)

Social and fuzzy, the California bumble bee lives in colonies that nest in the ground, sometimes abandoned rodent burrows. It carries pollen on its hind legs’ little “pollen baskets.”

While this bumble bee might seem like a shoe-in candidate from its name, Bombus californicus, it could be a risky choice. Its name is actually subject to change to Bombus fervidus. 

A California bumble bee hovering above a flower, holding onto its treasure in its pollen baskets.
Credits: iNaturalist user lizosborn

Crotch’s Bumble Bee (Bombus crotchii)

This endangered bee is endemic to California and is sometimes known as the Golden State bumble bee. Pesticides and habitat loss potentially threaten their populations. Thanks to the complexities of endangered species legislation wording, this bee now falls under the ‘Fish’ category of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

A Crotch’s bumble bee sitting on a leaf. This bee relies on native habitat to thrive.
Credits: iNaturalist user edwardrooks

California Fairy Bee (Perdita californica)

An impressively tiny bee, at just 6 mm long, the fairy bee is endemic to California and Baja California. It belongs to the genus Perdita, one of the most diverse genuses in the state. It is a specialist of mariposa lilies, of which there are dozens of species throughout the state.

Get real up close with this tiny California fairy bee. iNaturalist user dclump

Valley Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa sonorin)

Found all across the southwest, this bee nests in tunnels excavated out of wood. It’s a little bit social, females care for children and guard the nest while hanging out in its tunnel, but they have no caste systems like the honey bees. A golden fuzzy hue envelopes males, while females sport an all black attire. 

An all black valley carpenter bee female is camera shy behind a white flower.

Credits: iNaturalist user brandon94679

Fog-belt Bumble Bee (Bombus caliginosus)

This furry bumble bee is a socialite, living in colonies only found along the foggy coastlines of Washington down to Southern California. This bee is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and tends to rely on shrublands and grasslands, loving sweet peas, lupines, and willows.

Pulling down on a pink flower, this coastal loving fog-belt bumble bee is vulnerable to habitat loss.
Credits: iNaturalist user melbar2022

Cactus Chimney Bee (Diadasia australis)

Where there is a cactus flower in the West, this solitary bee can be found  rolling around deep in flowers. Carrying pollen on its hind legs, it heads back to the chimney burrows.

This cactus chimney bee is dappled in pollen as it rests upon a cactus flower.

Credits: iNaturalist user dylapodiformes