Stelis

Genus Stelis (Anthidini)

Stelis species are cuckoo bees that mimic Anthidium species as well as many other kinds of Megachilidae, including Osmia or mason bees. Most have pale bands and spots on their thorax and their broad oval abdomen, but some are solid black. All of them have very fine hair on their head and thorax, like most other bees, however, as well as a short hairy rug on the underside of their abdomen, so that they pick up a light dusting of pollen when they stop at flowers to sip nectar for flight energy.