A Look at Florida’s Rare Blue Bees

Florida is home to several species of brilliant metallic blue bees. While often confused with each other, some are quite rare, like the newly rediscovered blue calamintha bee. This unique pollinator stands out with its dark blue hue, pollen-collecting hairs, and affinity for the threatened Ashe’s calamint.

Understanding the differences between blue bee species highlights the diversity found even within a single state while underscoring the need to protect rare native pollinators like the blue calamintha.

Blue Calamintha Bee

The blue calamintha bee (Osmia calaminthae) is the rarest blue bee in Florida It was feared extinct until spring 2022 when scientists spotted it foraging on Ashe’s calamint Key identification points include

• Dark navy blue almost violet coloring on its head thorax and part of abdomen

• Dense light-colored hairs on its underside to collect pollen

• About 0.4 inches long

• Found exclusively around central Florida’s threatened Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem

• Strong association with Ashe’s calamint, and rubs its face in flowers to collect pollen

This critically imperiled bee acts as a specialized pollinator for the equally rare Ashe’s calamint. Protecting its scrub habitat and primary food source is vital for the bee’s survival.

Blue Mason Bees

Florida has 5-7 species of metallic blue mason bees in the Osmia genus. They create mud nests in hollow reeds or holes, earning them the name “mason”. These include:

• Osmia atriventris
• Osmia georgica
• Osmia pumila
• Osmia lignaria
• Osmia jamaicensis

Like the blue calamintha, they are a dark blue but slightly larger, ranging from 0.3-0.6 inches long. Dense abdominal hairs are also present for gathering pollen. But they visit a variety of flower species, not just calamint.

Blue Sweat Bees

Sweat bees in the family Halictidae exhibit brilliant sky-blue coloring with a purple sheen in some species. Metallic examples found in Florida include:

• Augochloropsis sumptuosa
• Augochloropsis anonyma
• Augochlorella aurata
• Augochlora pura

Ranging from 0.2-0.5 inches long, they are smaller and brighter than the blue calamintha. Their abdomen lacks thick hairs, and they visit many flowering plants, not just calamint.

Blue Carpenter Bees

The small carpenter bee species Ceratina dupla and Ceratina floridana have stunning blue and green tones. A third species, Ceratina strenua, is dark metallic green. Despite the colors, they actually aren’t true bees, but are more closely related to wasps. At less than 0.3 inches long, they are tiny pollinators.

The much larger eastern carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica, can also appear blue-black. But at over 0.6 inches long, it dwarfs the blue calamintha.

How to Tell Them Apart

Use these tips to distinguish between blue bees:

• Size – The blue calamintha is medium-sized, around 0.4 inches long. Smaller bees are sweat or carpenter bees. Larger are mason or eastern carpenter bees.

• Color – Sweat bees have bright sky blue hues. The blue calamintha is a darker blue/violet.

• Location – The calamintha bee only exists around central Florida’s Lake Wales Ridge.

• Abdominal hairs – Fluffy white hairs on the underside indicate mason and calamintha bees. Sweat and carpenter bees have bare abdomens.

• Food plants – Calamintha bees forage exclusively on Ashe’s calamint. Others visit diverse flowers.

In general, a navy blue bee around 0.4 inches long, densely hairy, visiting calamint flowers in the Lake Wales Ridge is likely the rare blue calamintha bee.

Why Care About Blue Bees?

Florida’s blue bees showcase impressive biodiversity. But some are under threat, like the blue calamintha. This unique species acts as a specialist pollinator for the equally endangered Ashe’s calamint plant. Protecting it and its rare scrub habitat is crucial.

Even abundant blue bees play vital ecological roles. All bees, including Florida’s blue species, provide essential pollination supporting both natural plant communities and agricultural crops.

Beyond pollination, they serve as food for birds, spiders and other wildlife. Conserving bees ensures healthy, functioning ecosystems. Promoting habitats with varied nesting sites and flower diversity allows different types of bees to thrive.

So while blue bees make for spectacular sightings, they also have an outsized positive impact on Florida’s environment. Appreciating the diversity found in a single state, yet narrow group of insects, underscores the importance of preservation. Because protecting rare species like the blue calamintha protects us all in the end.

Summary

• Florida has several types of electric blue bees, including the extremely rare blue calamintha bee.

• The calamintha bee is dark blue, medium-sized, hairy and found only around Lake Wales Ridge visiting Ashe’s calamint.

• Other blue bees in Florida include mason, sweat and carpenter bees, which differ in size, color intensity and food plants.

• Conserving habitats that support diverse native bees is crucial, even for abundant species that provide essential pollination services.

• While they may look similar at first glance, taking a closer look at Florida’s diversity of blue bees reveals an intricate, beautiful web of life worth protecting.