The Cactus Bee is a robust, furry bee of the desert Southwest specialized to pollinate prickly pear and cholla cacti, emerging precisely when its host cacti bloom. It is a buzz pollinator, vibrating its flight muscles to release cactus pollen, and its thoracic hair is perfectly designed to pick up prickly pear's powdery pollen. Females nest in the ground near cactus patches.
Best time to see a Cactus Bee
The best time to see a Cactus Bee is June–August, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 727 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Cactus Bee? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
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