This native sweat bee, which is covered in pollen from the yarrow, prefers to nest in ground tunnels, requiring bare ground for egg-laying. They carry pollen on their hind legs and body hairs, and they contribute to the pollination of various plants more efficiently than honey bees. To support bees in your garden, consider these tips.

1. Plant native flowers like Yarrow, California Poppies, and Sunflowers.
2. Leave some bare soil in the garden to support ground-nesting bees.
3. Let your garden rest; in fall, don’t cut back perennials. Many bees, like Mason bees, use stems to nest, so leaving them encourages more bees.
4. Create nesting habitat: Add logs, rock stacks, or a pile of firewood to attract bees like Leadcutter bees, which nest in cracks and crevices of wood or rocks.