Native Anthidium vs. Invasive Anthidium manicatum

A. manicatum found its way to the east coast of the United States around 1963. They spread across the country and were found in Chelan County, Washington State about 50 years later. The male takes his job of defending his territory seriously. Not only will he face off and bat away other bees, he may knock them to the ground and it is told that he may kill offenders. Not satisfied with that, he will face off any people that come into his space. Since he resembles a wasp when flying it intimidates people enough to back away--most never realize that he has no sting so he's really all bluster!

The much more peaceful native Anthidium that came to our yard prefered to work on Silverleaf / Phacelia hastata, which is also a native plant species. She was also about half as big as the A. manicatum.

Both make their nests from the fluffy fibers of plants. They are in the leafcutter bee family and it is easy to spot their nests plugged with white cottony fibers.

Posted on July 2, 2018 08:12 AM by wenatcheeb