Fairy Bee (Perdita minima)

This solitary bee species is native to the desert environments of the southwestern United States. They are frequently found in areas of the Sonoran Desert, where they forage for pollen.

Perdita minima is officially recognized as the smallest bee species in the world, measuring just 2 millimeters (about 0.08 inches) in length. Because of its microscopic size, it is barely visible to the naked eye when flying.

As a solitary bee, the female digs tiny individual nests in the sandy desert soil rather than living in a hive. She provisions these miniature burrows with pollen and nectar for her offspring.

Because they are solitary and incredibly small, fairy bees like Perdita minima are completely harmless to humans. They do not defend a hive like honeybees and lack the ability to sting people.