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Hundreds of mostly solitary bees, many of which nest in the ground rather than in hives.
Utah's native bees are far more varied than the honey-bee image suggests. USU Extension counts roughly 1,000 to 1,100 named species, depending on the page, and says most are solitary. Each female makes her own nest rather than joining a hive. At least three-fourths nest in the ground; others use hollow stems or old beetle burrows in dead wood.
Some groups are easy to learn. Leafcutter bees cut circular pieces from leaves to line nest cavities, a habit that does not harm the plant but can affect its look; they are important pollinators of alfalfa, clover and lupines. Mason bees, including the metallic blue orchard bee, are excellent pollinators of fruit trees and fly earliest, with peak activity in April. Wool carder bees collect woolly plant hairs for their nests, and males defend flower patches.
USU's garden advice is cautious because less is known about native bee nesting than about their flowers. Keep some bare, sunny, well-drained soil, avoid daytime overhead sprinkling near nest sites, and remember that weed-barrier fabric blocks ground nesters. A bee on a flower shows what it ate, not that the plant depends on it. This is a group profile; it does not name a single species.
Bees have two pairs of wings and, in females, pollen-carrying hairs; see USU's beginner guide for the groups.
Watch bees on flowers; handling and capture belong in guided study, not casual observation.
Found across Utah, from high mountains to city neighborhoods, and named for its large, mule-like ears.
The largest member of the deer family in Utah, at home where northern mountain forest meets water.
Common across Utah, including in cities, and an opportunist that will eat almost anything.