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Native Bees

Hymenoptera vary in the habitats used for resources. As adults, many species are predators, feed on flowers for pollen and nectar, or use a combination of these resources. During the larval stages, some species are parasites or pests of plants.

Bees, which include both social (e.g., bumble and honeybees) and solitary (e.g., leafcutter bees, sweat bees) species, are thought to be the most important pollinators of many native and introduced plants. Few plants in the temperate regions of the world have obligate relationships with particular pollinators but bees are considered the most efficient insects at manipulating restricted-access flowers. Some bees are cleptoparasites and will take the food collected, or otherwise prepared, including stored food, from another bee species. Social parasites take over the nest colonies of other bee species to exploit the brood care system of that species.

Bee families and genera are often found on flowering plants and their sociality, nest sites, and provision type.