Species: Orange-vented Mason Bee (Osmia leaiana)
Family: Mason bees (MEGACHILIDAE)
Category: Insects (Other)
Location: Widespread
A. Insects (Other)
More extensive information on insects can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Mason bees (MEGACHILIDAE)
Mason bees (also known as leafcutter bees) are mostly solitary bees. Several collect plant or animal hairs to assist in nest construction, whereas other collect plant resin for this purpose. All feed on pollen and nectar, although some of these feed on pollen collected by other bees (and so are called 'cuckoo bees').
C. Orange-vented Mason Bee (Osmia leaiana)
The males of these mason bees are small, being about 6 mm long, whereas the females are longer, at 10 mm. These bees chew up the edges of leaves to make a cement with which they seal their nests.
This species of mason bee gathers pollen from Cat's-ear, Knapweed and Bird's-foot Trefoil.
Images
Orange-vented Mason Bee
The Orange-vented Mason Bee chews up the edges of leaves to make a cement with which they seal their nests. In this photograph, this individual (a female) is chewing the edge of a Bramble leaf.
This species of mason bee gathers pollen from Cat's-ear, Knapweed and Bird's-foot Trefoil.
