The Squash Bee is a ground-nesting solitary bee that has co-evolved with cucurbit plants (squash, gourds, pumpkins) and is an extremely efficient pollinator of these crops. Males spend the night inside squash flowers and are often seen emerging groggily at dawn when the flowers close. It became widespread in North America following the spread of cultivated squash by Indigenous peoples and European colonization.
Best time to see a Squash Bee
The best time to see a Squash Bee is June–July, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 2,798 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Squash Bee? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
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