description Colletes compactus Overview
Colletes compactus, known as the compact plasterer bee, is a solitary, ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae. Ezra Cresson described the species in 1868 from North American material, and records place it in parts of Canada and the United States. It nests in sandy ground and can form large aggregations despite being solitary; the females line brood cells with a waterproof, cellophane-like secretion. The species is associated with asters and goldenrods and is listed as broadly oligolectic.
help Colletes compactus FAQ
What is Colletes compactus?
Colletes compactus is a solitary, ground-nesting bee in the family Colletidae. Its common name is the compact plasterer bee.
Who described Colletes compactus?
Ezra Cresson described the species in 1868 from North American material. Records place it in parts of Canada and the United States.
Where does Colletes compactus make its nest?
It nests in sandy ground, where a female can excavate a subterranean nesting burrow. The exact site conditions matter because compacted or unsuitable soil can limit nesting.
What does a solitary bee like Colletes compactus do?
A solitary female generally handles her own nest construction and provisioning rather than relying on a colony's worker caste. Colletes bees are known for ground nesting and for lining brood cells with a protective cellophane-like material.
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