Steel blue mason bee
| Steel blue mason bee | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Female of the steel blue mason bee |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Osmia caerulescens | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The steel blue mason bee ( Osmia caerulescens ) is a solitary wild bee of the genus Osmia from the group of mason bees (family Megachilidae).
features
The steel-blue mason bee is between 8 and 10 mm long and shows a pronounced sexual dimorphism . The somewhat larger female has a stocky body with a blue sheen and white-gray hair. The male has a copper to metallic green shimmer and a thicker red-yellow coat. The male's compound eyes are green.
distribution
The steel blue mason bee is widespread throughout Europe with the exception of the far north. It occurs less often at higher altitudes. It is not considered endangered.
Way of life
The steel blue mason bee nests in existing cavities, for example in feeding tunnels in old wood, plant stalks , steep walls, in the ground or in nesting aids . The nest consists of one to seven cells, which are separated by vegetable mortar, in a line. The plant mortar for separating the cells and for closing the nests is made from chewed leaves and petals. Eggs laid before June will hatch in July under favorable conditions. Bees from eggs laid later overwinter as imago in the cocoon. Thus the steel blue mason bee has one to two generations per year.
Pollen and nectar from butterflies and mint flowers are preferred food sources.
Web links
- www.wildbienen.info profile
- www.wildbienen.de Profile and pictures
- www.insekten-sachsen.de