The genus Colletes (plasterer bees) is a large group of ground-nesting bees of the family Colletidae. They occur primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. They tend to be solitary, but sometimes nest close together in aggregations. Species in the genus build cells in underground nests that are lined with a cellophane-like plastic secretion, a true polyester, earning them the nickname polyester bees.

there were about 469 described species, and an estimated total around 700. They occur throughout the world except in Antarctica, Australia, Madagascar, and Southeast Asia. There are about 60 species in Europe and about 100 in North America north of Mexico.

Colletes

Species

Colletes abeillei

Colletes aberrans

Colletes abessinicus

Colletes abnormis

Colletes acutiformis

Colletes acutus

Colletes aestivalis

Colletes aethiops

Colletes albescens

Colletes albicinctus

Colletes albohirtus

Colletes albomaculatus

Colletes alfkeni

Colletes alfredjohni

Colletes algarobiae

Colletes alicularis

Colletes alini

Colletes alocochila

Colletes americanus

Colletes anceps

Colletes anchusae

Colletes andrewsi

Colletes angelicus

Colletes ankarae

Colletes annae

Colletes annapurnensis

Colletes annejohnae

Colletes annulicornis

Colletes antecessus

Colletes antiguensis

Colletes arabicus

Colletes araucariae

Colletes arenarius

Colletes aridus

Colletes arizonensis

Colletes armeniacus

Colletes arsenjevi

Colletes arztbergi

Colletes asiaticus

Colletes askhabadensis

Colletes atacamensis

Colletes atlassus

Colletes atripes

Colletes aureocinctus

Colletes azteka

Colletes azureus

Colletes babai

Colletes banksi

Colletes beamerorum

Colletes bernadettae

Colletes bhutanicus

Colletes bicolor

Colletes bidentulus

Colletes birkmanni

Colletes bischoffi

Colletes biskrensis

Colletes bokkeveldi

Colletes bombiformis

Colletes bradleyi

Colletes brethesi

Colletes brevicornis

Colletes brevigena

Colletes brevinodis

Colletes brimleyi

Colletes brumalis

Colletes bruneri

Colletes brunneitarsis

Colletes bryanti

Colletes bulbotibialis

Colletes bumeliae

Colletes bytinskii

Colletes californicus

Colletes canescens

Colletes capensis

Colletes capitatus

Colletes cardiurus

Colletes carinatus

Colletes cariniger

Colletes caskanus

Colletes caspicus

Colletes cercidii

Colletes chalybaeus

Colletes chamaesarachae

Colletes chengtehensis

Colletes ciliatoides

Colletes ciliatus

Colletes cinctellus

Colletes cinerascens

Colletes claripes

Colletes clarus

Colletes clematidis

Colletes clypearis

Colletes clypeatus

Colletes clypeonitens

Colletes cognatus

Colletes collaris

Colletes comatus

Colletes comberi

Colletes compactus

Colletes conradti

Colletes consors

Colletes constrictus

Colletes coriandri

Colletes costaricensis

Colletes covilleae

Colletes cretaceus

Colletes creticus

Colletes cunicularius

Colletes cyanescens

Colletes cyaneus

Colletes cyanonitidus

Colletes cyprius

Colletes daleae

Colletes daourus

Colletes daviesanus

Colletes delicatus

Colletes delodontus

Colletes dentiventris

Colletes denudatus

Colletes deserticola

Colletes desertorum

Colletes dilatatus

Colletes dimidiatus

Colletes dinizi

Colletes diodontus

Colletes distinctus

Colletes dorni

Colletes dorsalis

Colletes dubitatus

Colletes dudgeonii

Colletes durbanensis

Colletes dusmeti

Colletes eardleyi

Colletes eatoni

Colletes ebmeri

Colletes edentulus

Colletes elegans

Colletes emaceatus

Colletes eous

Colletes esakii

Colletes escalerai

Colletes eulophi

Colletes eupogonites

Colletes everaertae

Colletes extensicornis

Colletes fasciatus

Colletes fascicularis

Colletes faurei

Colletes flaminii

Colletes flavicornis

Colletes floralis

Colletes fodiens

Colletes