Insect Species Occurrence Data from Multiple Projects Worldwide with Focus on Bees and Wasps in North America

Sampling event Specimen
Latest version published by United States Geological Survey on Apr 13, 2026 United States Geological Survey
Publication date:
April 13, 2026
License:
CC0 1.0

Download the latest version of this resource data as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) or the resource metadata as EML or RTF:

Data as a DwC-A file download 21,750 records in English (10 MB) - Update frequency: as needed
Metadata as an EML file download in English (33 KB)
Metadata as an RTF file download in English (24 KB)

Description

Species occurrence records for native and non-native bees, wasps and other insects collected for many different projects using mainly bowl, malaise, and vane trapping and insect netting methods in Canada, Mexico, the non-contiguous United States, U.S. Territories (specifically U.S. Virgin Islands), U.S. Minor Outlying Islands and other global locations with the bulk of the specimens coming from projects requested by partners in the Eastern United States often from Federal lands such as USFWS, NPS, DOD, USFS. Some records also contain notes regarding plants or substrates from which insects were collected or that were present and/or in flower at the time the insects were collected. Unless otherwise noted, taxonomic determinations (identifications) were completed by Sam Droege (USGS Bee Lab at the Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC)) and Clare Maffei (USFWS, National Wildlife Refuge System, Inventory and Monitoring Branch).The USGS Bee Lab currently keeps only a small synoptic collection, rare and voucher specimens are deposited in the Smithsonian National Collection (NMNH) and widely distributed to other institutions for DNA, revisions, and augmentation of existing collections. Surplus specimens are also made available to students to learn their identifications. Corrections to any of our determinations are always welcomed. Common species that are not in demand for surplus are usually destroyed and the pins recycled. Recent revisions to Lasioglossum, Ceratina, and to a much lesser extent Triepeolus and Epeolus and other small groups have rendered determinations prior to those revisions out of date for species involved in name changes and users should account for that during analyses. Current data (included information on specimen codes without identifications) are always available without charge directly from Sam Droege.----------While these data were collected using many different techniques, time periods, and regions they all follow the Wild Bee Data Standard (WBDS) core fields which uses controlled language adapted from Darwin Core (DwC). While the collection methods are unstandardized, the data presentation is.We highly recommend using the “Darwin Core Archive” package for this dataset. This can be downloaded from the GBIF annotated archive. The “Simple” download includes only specimen identification, date, and location. To understand the full context of those observations—including collection methods and associated measurements—download the “Darwin Core Archive” files.Files in the archive are linked by the "eventID" field. Each “eventID” represents a single collection event using one method. For example, a transect of bowl traps and a hand netting event on the same day and location will have separate “eventID’s”. All files include the date and location of the collection.Occurrence file: Provides the complete representation of identifications. This is the best place to explore how uncertain identifications and taxonomic changes affect the dataset. “scientificName” and “taxonRank” are treated conservatively; any specimen with an uncertain species-level identification is rolled up to genus for these fields“verbatimIdentification” shows the estimated identification or, in the case of taxonomic splits, the species group. These are often qualified in some way using terms such as “?”, “aff”, “group”, “near”, etc.“identificationRemarks” provides notes on any changes made.“basisOfRecord” uses controlled language from DwC to describe the nature of the record.Event file:Contains information on the collection method and any associated data recorded by the project (such as weather or flora).“samplingEffort” is the only exception to WBDS. This field cannot be interpreted for the entire dataset because these data are aggregated from multiple sources. Researchers may calculate values for specific collection events.Extended Measurement or Fact file: Adds details related to the controlled-language “samplingProtocol” field from the “Event” file, such as collection medium (e.g.: type of fluid used in traps).Important Notes:Taxonomic uncertainty and changes over time may affect interpretation. Review the Occurrence file for details. These data are aggregated from multiple projects, so some fields may vary in completeness. Absence of bee species from this dataset does not indicate absence of the species from the collecting location. Number of times a species is recorded in this dataset does not represent actual species abundance or common-ness but does offer an indication of fluctuations in communities.

Data Records

The data in this sampling event resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 329,917 records.

This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.

Versions

The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.

How to cite

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

Droege S, Maffei C, Shumar S, Lent S (2026). Insect Species Occurrence Data from Multiple Projects Worldwide with Focus on Bees and Wasps in North America. Version 1.30. United States Geological Survey. Samplingevent dataset. https://ipt.gbif.us/resource?r=usgs-pwrc-biml&v=1.30

Rights

Researchers should respect the following rights statement:

The publisher and rights holder of this work is United States Geological Survey. To the extent possible under law, the publisher has waived all rights to these data and has dedicated them to the Public Domain (CC0 1.0). Users may copy, modify, distribute and use the work, including for commercial purposes, without restriction.

GBIF Registration

This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: f519367d-6b9d-411c-b319-99424741e7de.  United States Geological Survey publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by GBIF-US.

Keywords

Metadata; bees; pollinators; insects; social bees; solitary bees; Specimen; Occurrence

Contacts

Sam Droege
  • Originator ●
  • Point Of Contact
  • Biologist
United States Geological Survey
20708 Laurel
Maryland
US
Clare Maffei
  • Custodian Steward ●
  • Originator ●
  • Point Of Contact
  • Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
20708 Laurel
MD
US
Sydney Shumar
  • Originator ●
  • Point Of Contact
  • Biologist
U.S. Geological Survey
20708 Laurel
MD
US
Sally Lent
  • Originator ●
  • Point Of Contact
  • Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
20708 Laurel
MD
US

Geographic Coverage

Canada, Mexico, Non-contiguous United States, U.S. Territories (specifically U.S. Virgin Islands), U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, and other global locations.

Bounding Coordinates South West [-46.79, -163.482], North East [67.112, 121.415]

Taxonomic Coverage

Specimen-based occurrence records for native and non-native bees (Apidae), wasps, and other insects. Records for other non-target insect species commonly captured during bee collection are also recorded in this dataset.

Family Apidae (bumblebees, carpenter bees, cuckoo bees, digger bees, longhorn bees, orchid bees, honey bees, stingless bees), Andrenidae (andrenid bees, mining bees), Colletidate (colletid bees, plasterer bees, yellow-faced bees, polyester bees, cellophane bees), Halictidae (halictid bees, sweat bees), Megachilidae (megachilid bees, leafcutter bees, mason bees, wool carder bees), Melittidae (melittid bees), Sphecidae (mud daubers, sphecid wasps, digger wasps, sand wasps), Crabronidae (crabronid wasps, cicadakillers, sand wasps, mud daubers), Vespidae (vespid wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, paper wasps), Pompilidae (pompilid wasps, spider wasps, spider-hunting wasps), Scoliidae (scollid wasps), Chrysididae (crysidid wasps, cuckoo wasps, jewel wasps, emerald wasps, golden wasps, ruby wasps), Mutillidae (mutillid wasps, velvet ant, cow killers), Bembicidae, Philanthidae (beewolves), Ampulicidae (cockroach wasp)

Project Data

No Description available

Title Bees of North America (United States, U.S. Territories and Minor Outlying Islands, Canada, and Mexico)
Identifier BIML
Funding Main funding is provided by United States Geological Survey (USGS), Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC); with support from Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History; American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), Discover Life (www.discoverlife.org) and other contributors.
Study Area Description Sampling for this dataset focuses on any location within the non-contiguous United States, U.S territories and Minor Outlying Islands, Canada, and Mexico, mainly in terrestrial locations. In some cases, protected areas such as national parks and wildlife refuges or specific vegetation types are targeted during collecting.

The personnel involved in the project:

Sam Droege
Clare Maffei
Sydney Shumar
Sally Lent

Sampling Methods

Collection techniques are not standardized. Each project (>100) uses its own sampling technique complex of traps, netting, and combinations thereof. Time periods vary from short-term (24 hours) and long-term (weeks, months, or continuous) operation of many different sized pan, bowl, cup, or bucket traps, hanging vane, malaise, hand/insect net (mesh size, diameter of head and experience of collector varies greatly), or other traps arranged in transects or arrays of varying lengths. Some sampling methods target specific habitats, vegetation complexes, or plant or insect species. While other sampling methods aim to inventory bee species presence in protected areas such as national parks and wildlife refuges.

Study Extent This dataset is an aggregation of numerous projects and collection efforts the Bee Lab has supported over the year conducted across the United States, U.S. territories and Minor Outlying Islands, Canada, Mexico, and other global locations by employees and field personnel of the USGS, and other federal, academic, and state agencies; protected area managers, biologists, private researchers, citizen scientists and volunteers.
Quality Control Bee species occurrence records are reviewed by project managers for accuracy and completeness. Unless otherwise noted, taxonomic determinations were completed by Sam Droege and other professional bee taxonomists where necessary (e.g. Dr. John Ascher, American Museum of Natural History; Dr. Jason Gibbs, Cornell University). If taxonomic determinations are completed by a Collector or someone other than Sam Droege, they are reviewed by Sam Droege or other professional bee taxonomists. These data are also subject to review by USGS for accuracy and completeness following Darwin Core including but not limited to scientific name (syntax, spelling), and temporal and geographic information.

Method step description:

  1. This database follows the Wild Bee Data Standard. Du Clos, B., Seltmann, K. C., Turley, N. E., Maffei, C., Tucker, E. M., Lane, I. G., Levenson, H. K., & Woodard, S. H. (2025). Improving the standardization of wild bee occurrence data: Towards a formal wild bee data standard. Journal of Melittology, 123. https://doi.org/10.17161/jom.vi123.23163

Collection Data

Collection Name USGS_DRO
Collection Identifier NA
Parent Collection Identifier NA
Specimen preservation methods Pinned

Bibliographic Citations

  1. Sellers, E. and D. McCarthy. 2015. Distribution and floral hosts of Anthophorula micheneri (Timberlake, 1947) and Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869), (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), with new state records in Giles and Loudoun counties, Virginia, eastern USA. Check List 11(3):1665. doi:10.15560/11.3.1665 http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/11.3.1665
  2. Larson, D. L., Droege, S., Rabie, P. A., Larson, J. L., Devalez, J., Haar, M., McDermott-Kubeczko, M. 2014. Using a network modularity analysis to inform management of a rare endemic plant in the northern Great Plains, USA. Journal of Applied Ecology, 51: 1024–1032. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12273 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12273
  3. Russell, K. N., H. Ikerd, and S. Droege. 2005. The potential conservation value of unmowed powerline strips for native bees. Biological Conservation 124(1):133-148. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.01.022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2005.01.022
  4. Ascher, J. S., P. Ganibino, and S. Droege. 2006. Adventive Hylaeus (Spatulariella Popov) in the New World (Hymenoptera : Apoidea : Colletidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 108(1):237-239. http://biostor.org/reference/55432 http://biostor.org/reference/55432
  5. Rykken, J., A. Rodman, S. Droege, and R. Grundel. 2014. Pollinators in peril? A multipark approach to evaluating bee communities in habitats vulnerable to effects from climate change. Park Science 31(1):84-90. http://www.nature.nps.gov/ParkScience/index.cfm?ArticleID=678; http://www.nature.nps.gov/ParkScience/archive/PDF/Article_PDFs/ParkScience31(1)SpecialIssue2014_84-87_89-90_Rykken_et_al_3797.pdf http://www.nature.nps.gov/ParkScience/archive/PDF/Article_PDFs/ParkScience31(1)SpecialIssue2014_84-87_89-90_Rykken_et_al_3797.pdf
  6. Colla, S. R., J. S. Ascher, M. Arduser, J. Cane, M. Deyrup, S. Droege, J. Gibbs, T. Griswold, H. G. Hall, C. Henne, J. Neff, R. P. Jean, M. G. Rightmyer, C. Sheffield, M. Veit, and A. Wolf. 2012. Documenting persistence of most eastern North American bee species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) to 1990-2009. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 85(1):14-22. doi:10.2317/JKES110726.1 http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.2317/JKES110726.1
  7. Droege, S., M. G. Rightmyer, C. S. Sheffield, and S. G. Brady. 2010. New synonymies in the bee genus Nomada from North America (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Zootaxa No. 2661:1-32. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/list/2010/2661.html
  8. Droege, S., V. J. Tepedino, G. Lebuhn, W. A. Link, R. L. Minckley, Q. Chen, and C. Conrad. 2010. Spatial patterns of bee captures in North American bowl trapping surveys. Insect Conservation and Diversity 3(1):15-23. doi:10.1111/j.1752-4598.2009.00074.x http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-4598.2009.00074.x
  9. Droege, S., C. A. Davis, W. E. Steiner, Jr., and Mawdsley, J. 2009. The lost micro-deserts of the Patuxent River using landscape history, insect and plant specimens, and field work to detect and define a unique community. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 111(1):132-144. doi:10.4289/0013-8797-111.1.132 http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.4289/0013-8797-111.1.132

Additional Metadata

Many projects use protocols outlined in the "National Protocol Framework for the Inventory and Monitoring of Bees Ver 3.0." Using this resource is not a requirement for services. https://iris.fws.gov/APPS/ServCat/Reference/Profile/179113

Many projects use field techniques outlined in "The Very Handy Bee Manual." This not a standardized protocol or a requirement for services. https://zenodo.org/records/12812755

Users are encouraged to review the U.S. National Native Bee Monitoring Research and Coordination Network (https://www.nativebeemonitoring.org/) special issues series within the Journal of Melittology. The special issue gathers standardized methods to advance standardized, reproducible methods for the study of wild bees. Woodard, S. H., & Levenson, H. K. (2025). Special issue series: Advancing wild bee research and conservation through standardized methods. Journal of Melittology, 123. https://doi.org/10.17161/jom.vi123.22605

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Alternative Identifiers f519367d-6b9d-411c-b319-99424741e7de
https://ipt.gbif.us/resource?r=usgs-pwrc-biml