A solitary, native, metallic-blue bee that's 80–100x more effective per individual at pollinating fruit trees than honey bees — and they don't sting unless squeezed.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Osmia lignaria, commonly known as the orchard mason bee or blue orchard bee, is a megachilid bee that makes nests in natural holes and reeds, creating individual cells for its brood that are separated by mud dividers. Unlike carpenter bees, it cannot drill holes in wood. O. lignaria is a common species used for early spring fruit bloom in the United States and Canada, though a number of other Osmia species are cultured for use in pollination.
Source: Wikipedia — Osmia lignaria Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Stocky black-and-blue bee with metallic dark blue body. Males have pale spots on the face.
Similar species. Other Osmia species (different patterns). Bumble bees (much fuzzier).
Voice. Buzz while flying.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Nectar (carbohydrates) and pollen (protein).
Behavior. Solitary bee — each female makes her own nest. Builds nests in hollow stems or in pre-existing holes. Important pollinator of fruit trees and blueberries.
§ Range
Throughout most of the US
§ Habitat
Forests, orchards, gardens; nests in hollow stems and pre-existing holes
§ Threats
Loss of nest cavities (clean orchards, no dead wood), pesticides, displacement by introduced species.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the blue orchard mason bee is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Install a mason bee house with paper tubes (replace yearly to prevent disease). Leave standing dead wood. Buy organic fruit.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Osmia lignaria
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Osmia lignaria
- iNaturalist · taxon 154188
- IUCN Red List — search for Osmia lignaria
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Osmia lignaria
§ Sources cited
- Xerces Society
- Crown Bees
- USDA-ARS Bee Lab
