• Black or gray bodies, often shiny or metallic
• Some have faint stripes of white hair on abdomen
• Relatively hairless bodies compared to other bees
• Very small to small body size: 3-7mm

These bees may be confused with wasps as they are quite small. Their attraction to the salt found in human sweat gives them their name. Most of the species nest underground. They emerge in mid spring and will forage throughout the summer. Many are semi-social or communal, while others are solitary. They are generalists and will forage on a wide variety of plants.