Melissodes bimaculatus

Females have two pale spots on the abdomen, while males are notable for their very long antennae. The combination of abdominal spots and long male antennae makes the species easier to separate from many dark solitary bees. [Tufts bee field guide](https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/files/2020/09/091520_NicksBeeFieldTips_tiny.pdf)

It is a solitary North American bee, so individual females provision their own nests rather than producing honey for a permanent colony. Melissodes species are commonly associated with ground nesting and do not have the worker-and-queen structure of Apis mellifera. [Tufts bee field guide](https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/files/2020/09/091520_NicksBeeFieldTips_tiny.pdf)

Melissodes bees are strongly associated with Asteraceae, and field guides specifically connect M. bimaculatus with sunflower-type flowers. They can therefore be seen around sunflowers and other daisy-family plants during their active season. [Michigan State native bee guide](https://www.canr.msu.edu/pollination/uploads/files/Native_Bees_Habitat_Pocket_guide.pdf)

The two-spotted longhorn bee is native to North America and is encountered in gardens, meadows, and other flower-rich habitats. Females are usually recognized by the two abdominal spots, while males may look mostly dark apart from pale hairs on the legs. [Tufts bee field guide](https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/files/2020/09/091520_NicksBeeFieldTips_tiny.pdf)