Red Mason Bee

Osmia bicornis

Prefered habitat -

Grassland, heathland, farmland, gardens

Nectar & Pollen Sources -

Pollen from maple and oak trees & nectar from maple trees. Later in the season the bees tend to forage on pollen from poppy and buttercup plants.

Local Site -

Hendre Lake

A Bit About Me

The Red Mason bee is a common gingery bee 0.6-1.1cm long taking flight from
from March to June. The bee nests in hollow plant stems, holes in cliffs, and in the crumbling mortar of old buildings. It is a solitary bee so, after mating, each female builds its own nest; she lines each 'cell' with mud and pollen and lays a single egg in each until the cavity is full. The larvae hatch and develop, pupating in autumn and hibernating over winter.

The Red Mason bee feeds solely on pollen and nectar. Rather than collecting pollen and transporting it on their legs like many other bees, Red Mason females collect pollen in hairs on the undersides of their abdomen

Identification

The red mason bee is covered in dense gingery hair; the males are smaller than the females and sport a white tuft of hair on the face, while the females head is black with two “horns”. There are many similar species of masonry bee that can be difficult to identify.