Miner bees (Anthophora abrupta), also known as chimney bees, are smaller than a honey bee, with a stout, furry body. They are often mistaken for bumble bees, also being black and yellow summertime bees. They are friendly, non-aggressive and typically do not sting or bite. Despite their small stature, mining bees are very important to flower pollination, especially in the mid-west region of the United States. Anthophora abrupta’s geographic distribution ranges from Texas to Florida, stretching up the East Coast to Canada.
Miner bees
Rosser1954 [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
