The male has a yellow band on his face, while the female is totally black.

She lines the cavity with a film she secretes, and then places a mass of nectar and pollen for the newly hatched larvae to eat.

The bee visits several native Hawaiian plants, such as Scaevola coriacea, Sida fallax, Sesbania tomentosa, Myoporum sandwicense, Santalum ellipticum, and Vitex rotundifolia.

Much of its known habitat has been developed or degraded, and its host plants no longer grow in the area.

Damage to the habitat has occurred via development, the introduction of nonnative plants and animals, agriculture, recreational activity, and fire.