''Hylaeus nigritus'', also known as the black masked bee, is a species of
solitary bee
Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfami ...
native to much of
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
, with sightings and preserved specimens recorded as far east as
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia and the
Caucuses
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement. The exact definition varies between different countries and political cultures.
The term originated in the United States, where it can refer to a meeting ...
.
Description
The black masked bee is average sized compared to other members of Hylaeus, measuring 8 to 10 mm in length. Males are mostly black with a distinctive white face while females are entirely black.
Distribution and habitat
Recorded sightings of the black masked bee extend across Europe and into Russia, with preserved specimens found in the Caucuses.
Not much is known about the species' specific habitat or behavior.
References
{{taxonbar, from=Q2442261
Insects described in 1793
Colletidae