Anthidium

Anthidium are moderately large and robustly built megachilids. Both sexes have powerful mandibles with sharp edges and present a striking pattern of yellow, white, or cream-colored markings across the abdomen, thorax, and head. They are strong fliers capable of highly controlled hovering. Females have a ventral scopa and are well known for gathering plant fibers to use as inner lining in their nests. Males are similar in appearance to females, but usually larger in size and with thorn-like spines at the tip of the abdomen. They are highly territorial, patrolling flower patches within their terrain and attacking every insect that comes too close except for Anthidium females. They are solitary bees that build their nests typically aboveground in pre-existing cavities.