The bee ranges from Colorado to California and north to British Columbia, and often inhabits arid and alpine lands.

The bee is often black or dark brown, and is sparsely coated with grayish hair on the thorax, legs and on the abdomen.

The wings of the willow flower miner bee are smokey, and their veins are black.

The nests of the willow flower miner bees are created when a mated female bee excavates a small tunnel that branch off into small branches.

The larva grows rapidly, but the bees do not emerge until spring.