Subject: Rusty red-furred bee. Ridged flat back.
Geographic location of the bug: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Date: 07/19/2018
Time: 01:15 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: I saw this bee on an agastache flower in my backyard. I looked at your guide and it seems to be a resin bee? It’s gorgeous.
We used to have carpenter bees out back (deck) but now they’ve sawed our front porch. You say that the resin bees move into already established holes…………………….
How you want your letter signed: swarner
Dear swarner,
You are correct that this is an introduced Sculptured Resin Bee and according to BugGuide: “They are opportunistic and nest in existing wooden cavities, rather than excavating their own. Effectively pollinate kudzu, another invasive species.”