What is "solitary bee"

Solitary \Sol"i*ta*ry\, a. [L. solitarius, fr. solus alone: cf. F. solitaire. See Sole, a., and cf. Solitaire.]

1. Living or being by one's self; having no companion present; being without associates; single; alone; lonely.

   Those rare and solitary, these in flocks.
   --Milton.

   Hie home unto my chamber, Where thou shalt find me, sad and solitary.
   --Shak.

2. Performed, passed, or endured alone; as, a solitary journey; a solitary life.

   Satan . . . explores his solitary flight.
   --Milton.

3. Not much visited or frequented; remote from society; retired; lonely; as, a solitary residence or place.

4. Not inhabited or occupied; without signs of inhabitants or occupation; desolate; deserted; silent; still; hence, gloomy; dismal; as, the solitary desert.

   How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people.
   --Lam. i. 1.

   Let that night be solitary; let no joyful voice come therein.
   --Job iii. 7.

5. Single; individual; sole; as, a solitary instance of vengeance; a solitary example.

6. (Bot.) Not associated with others of the same kind.

   Solitary ant (Zo["o]l.), any solitary hymenopterous insect of the family Mutillid[ae]. The female of these insects is destitute of wings and has a powerful sting. The male is winged and resembles a wasp. Called also spider ant.

   Solitary bee (Zo["o]l.), any species of bee which does not form communities.

   Solitary sandpiper (Zo["o]l.), an American tattler ( Totanus solitarius).

   Solitary snipe (Zo["o]l.), the great snipe. [Prov. Eng.]

   Solitary thrush (Zo["o]l.) the starling. [Prov. Eng.]