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Cabrillo National Monument

A Native Bee Genus Field Guide 🐝

by Brandi Sanchez

A companion to the species guide, one row per bee genus, pooling records at every identification level. Species ID’d counts the distinct species pinned within the genus, and 0 means none yet. As on the species guide, most-recorded flowers and most-used plant are where the genus was seen most, reflecting bloom and effort as much as choice, while forage preference corrects for what was available in the same month, year, and method.

A Status of “rare” does not mean a genus is truly rare. Here it usually means the genus is under-sampled, not that it is genuinely scarce.

GenusRecordsSpecies ID'dStatusPeak dayActive monthsWhere to findFlower breadthMost-recorded flowersMost-used plantForage preference
times recordeddistinct specieshow often recordedaverage date seenmonths it’s activefavored transect(s)how many plants usedseen on mosttop plant and its sharefavorite, availability-corrected
LasioglossumiNaturalist236414commonMay 22Feb-OctTP (50%), UPMON (21%), BST (19%)Very broad (66)Brittlebushes (Encelia), Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum), Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Deinandra, LeptosyneBrittlebushes (Encelia), 21%Selective -> Deinandra (1.4x vs available)
AugochlorellaiNaturalist17551commonAug 9Apr-OctTP (57%), UPMON (17%), OT (16%)Very broad (43)Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum), Brittlebushes (Encelia), DeinandraWirelettuces (Stephanomeria), 28%Selective -> Wild Buckwheats (1.4x vs available)
DufoureaiNaturalist11802commonApr 29Mar-JunTP (61%), BST (22%)Broad (23)Brittlebushes (Encelia), Leptosyne, Bahiopsis, Pincushion Plants (Chaenactis), DeinandraBrittlebushes (Encelia), 81%Selective -> Brittlebushes (2.9x vs available)
Bombus*iNaturalist11745commonJun 11Mar-OctUPMON (43%), BST (31%), TP (19%)Very broad (45)Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum), Deervetch (Acmispon), Milkvetches (Astragalus), Sages (Salvia), Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria)Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum), 29%Selective -> Deervetch (63.9x vs available)
CeratinaiNaturalist11562commonJul 5Mar-SepTP (46%), BST (22%), UPMON (19%)Very broad (44)Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Brittlebushes (Encelia), Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), Corethrogyne, LeptosyneWirelettuces (Stephanomeria), 27%Selective -> Wirelettuces (2.0x vs available)
AgapostemoniNaturalist11032commonJul 13Feb-NovTP (48%), UPMON (22%), OT (16%)Very broad (33)Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Brittlebushes (Encelia), Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), Corethrogyne, Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum)Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), 27%Selective -> Corethrogyne (2.3x vs available)
ColletesiNaturalist8943commonAug 3Apr-OctTP (80%), UPMON (15%)Broad (22)Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), Deinandra, Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum), Baccharis, Brittlebushes (Encelia)Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), 47%Selective -> Baccharis (6.1x vs available)
AndrenaiNaturalist5857commonFeb 25Jan-AprTP (54%), UPMON (25%)Broad (19)Sumacs (Rhus), Leptosyne, Brittlebushes (Encelia), Goldfields (Lasthenia), Buckthorns (Rhamnus)Sumacs (Rhus), 43%Selective -> Goldfields (24.2x vs available)
MelissodesiNaturalist5645commonJul 2May-SepTP (43%), UPMON (28%)Broad (15)Brittlebushes (Encelia), Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), Corethrogyne, Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), BahiopsisBrittlebushes (Encelia), 34%Selective -> Bahiopsis (5.7x vs available)
AnthophoraiNaturalist2883commonJul 19Mar-SepTP (75%)Very broad (25)Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Stinkweed (Cleomella), Deinandra, Brittlebushes (Encelia), CorethrogyneWirelettuces (Stephanomeria), 33%Selective -> Stinkweed (17.4x vs available)
PerditaiNaturalist2805commonJun 17Mar-OctTP (50%), OT (30%), UPMON (18%)Broad (17)Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Eschscholzia, Heteromeles, Leptosyne, MalosmaWirelettuces (Stephanomeria), 44%Selective -> Eschscholzia (17.4x vs available)
HalictusiNaturalist2653commonJul 12Mar-OctTP (66%), UPMON (25%)Broad (21)Brittlebushes (Encelia), Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), Deinandra, Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), LeptosyneBrittlebushes (Encelia), 24%Selective -> Deinandra (2.5x vs available)
DiadasiaiNaturalist1605commonJun 5Apr-JulUPMON (47%), BST (25%), TP (20%)Broad (8)Bushmallows (Malacothamnus), Prickly Pears (Opuntia), Bergerocactus, Barrel Cactuses (Ferocactus), Chollas (Cylindropuntia)Bushmallows (Malacothamnus), 46%Selective -> Prickly Pears (88.4x vs available)
XenoglossaiNaturalist671commonJul 28Jun-SepTP (51%), UPMON (35%)Narrow (3)Deinandra, Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), Rabbit-tobaccos (Pseudognaphalium)Deinandra, 97%Selective -> Deinandra (6.4x vs available)
DianthidiumiNaturalist621commonJul 20May-SepTP (72%), OT (23%)Broad (12)Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Corethrogyne, Ice Plants (Mesembryanthemum), Brittlebushes (Encelia), Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma)Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), 35%Selective -> Ice Plants (6.5x vs available)
MegachileiNaturalist604commonAug 29Jun-SepModerate (7)Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), Brittlebushes (Encelia), Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Deinandra, Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum)Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), 40%Generalist (visits ~ availability)
HabropodaiNaturalist472uncommonMar 27Feb-AprBST (75%)not enough recordsSages (Salvia), Deervetch (Acmispon), Milkvetches (Astragalus), Suncups (Camissoniopsis), Stinkweed (Cleomella)Sages (Salvia), 40%not enough records
NomadaiNaturalist451uncommonAug 3May-Sepnot enough recordsWirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Brittlebushes (Encelia), Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), Bahiopsis, DeinandraWirelettuces (Stephanomeria), 67%not enough records
AshmeadiellaiNaturalist421uncommonJun 22Apr-SepUPMON (41%), OT (33%), TP (22%)not enough recordsDeinandra, Corethrogyne, Brittlebushes (Encelia), Jimmyweeds and Goldenbushes (Isocoma), False Goldenasters (Heterotheca)Deinandra, 32%not enough records
HylaeusiNaturalist331uncommonJun 5Mar-SepUPMON (57%), BST (43%)not enough recordsWild Buckwheats (Eriogonum), Rabbit-tobaccos (Pseudognaphalium), Baccharis, Corethrogyne, HeteromelesWild Buckwheats (Eriogonum), 25%not enough records
BiastesiNaturalistnot yet ID'd to species310uncommonApr 28Mar-Maynot enough recordsBrittlebushes (Encelia), Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum), Suncups (Camissoniopsis), Pincushion Plants (Chaenactis), LeptosyneBrittlebushes (Encelia), 45%not enough records
AnthidiumiNaturalist272uncommonJun 25Apr-SepTP (69%), OT (25%)not enough recordsWirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Sairocarpus, Deinandra, Ice Plants (Mesembryanthemum), Rabbit-tobaccos (Pseudognaphalium)Wirelettuces (Stephanomeria), 25%not enough records
BrachymelectaiNaturalist181uncommonApr 24Mar-JunTP (100%)not enough recordsBrittlebushes (Encelia), Deinandra, Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum)Brittlebushes (Encelia), 89%not enough records
HoplitisiNaturalist131rareApr 23Mar-MayTP (92%)not enough recordsBrittlebushes (Encelia), Woodsorrels (Oxalis), Deervetch (Acmispon), Fiddlenecks (Amsinckia), Pincushion Plants (Chaenactis)Brittlebushes (Encelia), 22%not enough records
OsmiaiNaturalist61rareApr 18Mar-MayUPMON (67%), BST (33%)not enough recordsSages (Salvia), Deervetch (Acmispon), Annual Cryptanthas (Cryptantha), Brittlebushes (Encelia)Sages (Salvia), 40%not enough records
AtoposmiaiNaturalist41rareJun 29May-JulTP (100%)not enough recordsDeinandra-not enough records
CentrisiNaturalist41rareSep 5Aug-Sepnot enough recordsWirelettuces (Stephanomeria)-not enough records
TetraloniellaiNaturalist41rareMay 20Mar-JulUPMON (100%)not enough recordsDeinandra, Brittlebushes (Encelia), Leptosyne-not enough records
AnthophorulaiNaturalistnot yet ID'd to species30rareJun 29Jun-Julnot enough recordsWirelettuces (Stephanomeria), Bushmallows (Malacothamnus)-not enough records
EpeolusiNaturalist21rareApr 15AprTP (100%)not enough recordsLeptosyne-not enough records
TrachusaiNaturalist11rareJun 25JunOT (100%)not enough recordsDeinandra-not enough records

* A star by a genus marks one that includes a species listed as threatened or near threatened on the IUCN Red List, based on the current Red List.

These counts pool netted specimens and every iNaturalist photo, not just formal survey records, across all years and the whole park. Source: iNaturalist photos and netted specimens, Cabrillo National Monument (data as of 2026-09-14).

Because casual public photos count too, Status shows how often a genus is noticed rather than how many there are. A showy bee near a busy trail can read as common on public photos alone, so treat rare, uncommon, and common as recording frequency rather than true density. The cut-offs are rare below 15 records, uncommon 15 to 49, and common 50 or more. Flower breadth is only stated at 50 or more records.