# Blue Orchard Bee (*Osmia lignaria*) The Blue Orchard Bee is a small, friendly bee that loves to visit flowers. They help plants grow by spreading pollen, making them super important for our gardens and farms! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Gardens ![Blue Orchard Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Blue_orchard_bee.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_orchard_bee.jpg) ## Appearance The Blue Orchard Bee has a metallic, iridescent blue-black body covered in pale hairs. Its shiny, slightly plump appearance and small size make it easily distinguishable from common honeybees, which are typically golden-brown. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Megachilidae - **Genus:** Osmia ## Interesting facts - Each female builds her own nursery of mud or hollow stems for her babies. - Female Blue Orchard Bees carry pollen dry under their belly, not in leg baskets! - Males emerge from their nests first, often waiting for the females to hatch out! - They don't make honey, but they are champion pollinators for spring fruits! ## Special abilities - **Super Pollinator:** Blue Orchard Bees can pollinate many fruit trees and flowers very efficiently because they carry pollen dry, helping more plants grow. - **Mud Mason:** The female Blue Orchard Bee can build tough, protective nest cells using mud and plant materials that shelter her young. - **Chilly Worker:** Blue Orchard Bees have a strong body that allows them to forage for pollen and nectar even in cooler spring temperatures. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 15-20 mm - **Size:** 8-12 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-40 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Blue Orchard Bees drink nectar for energy and gather pollen to feed their developing young. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Apple blossom pollen, Blueberry blossom nectar, Cherry blossom pollen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Apple tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/apple-tree) (*Malus domestica*) — vital for apple production - **Pollinates:** [Peach tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peach-tree) (*Prunus persica*) — helps peaches ripen - **Pollinates:** Highbush Blueberry (*Vaccinium corymbosum*) — essential for blueberry harvests - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — bluebirds might prey on adults ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Bees are usually friendly, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blue Orchard Bee? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Blue Orchard Bee's wingspan? 15-20 mm ### How big is Blue Orchard Bee? 8-12 mm ### How long does Blue Orchard Bee live? 20-40 days ### How fast can Blue Orchard Bee fly? 15 km/h ### What does Blue Orchard Bee eat? Blue Orchard Bees drink nectar for energy and gather pollen to feed their developing young. ### Where is Blue Orchard Bee usually found? Urban areas, Gardens ### How does Blue Orchard Bee hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Martha Springer Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/martha-springer-botanical-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Blue Orchard Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-orchard-bee)