# Oblong Woolcarder Bee (*anthidium oblongatum*) The Oblong Woolcarder Bee (Anthidium oblongatum) is a fascinating solitary bee species belonging to the family Megachilidae. Native to Europe and introduced to North America, this bee is named for its unique nesting behavior. Females collect soft plant hairs from fuzzy leaves to line and seal their nests, which are typically constructed in pre-existing cavities such as rock crevices, hollow stems, or masonry. They are energetic, agile fliers often observed darting quickly between flowers in sunny gardens and meadows. Unlike honeybees, they do not live in colonies; each female works independently to construct her nests and provision her offspring. Males are highly territorial and defensive, patrolling patches of preferred flowers and actively chasing away intruders, including much larger insects. This charismatic bee is a valuable pollinator, particularly drawn to plants in the Fabaceae and Crassulaceae families. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Found in warm, sunny habitats such as dry meadows, rocky hillsides, urban gardens, and parks with plentiful gravel, masonry, and nectar-producing plants. ![Oblong Woolcarder Bee](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/54127041/medium.jpg) Photo: Owen Strickland, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/54127041) ## Appearance This medium-sized solitary bee is easily recognized by its robust, wasp-like appearance and striking coloration. It typically measures around 1 centimeter in length, with females being slightly smaller than the aggressively territorial males. They have a dark black base color decorated with bold, bright yellow or cream-colored spots along the sides of the abdomen, rather than continuous bands, giving them a segmented, dashed look. Their head and thorax feature dense, pale yellowish hairs, and females possess a specialized pollen-carrying brush on the underside of their abdomen, which is often caked in bright yellow pollen. Their wings are slightly smoky, and their legs are notably stout and yellow-marked. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Megachilidae - **Genus:** Anthidium ## Interesting facts - These bees often sleep overnight inside flowers or by clamping their jaws onto a plant stem and letting their bodies hang suspended. - They are nicknamed 'woolcarders' because of the female's habit of shaving fuzzy hairs off plants to spin cotton-like nests. - To deter intruders, territorial males are equipped with sharp teeth-like spines on the end of their abdomen, which they use to ram and injure competitors. - Unlike many other bees, males of this species are larger than females, an adaptation that helps them physically dominate and defend territories. ## Special abilities - **Wool Carding:** Females use their specialized, toothed mandibles to scrape soft hairs from fuzzy plants to construct cozy, insulated nest cells. - **Territorial Patrolling:** Males establish and aggressively defend rich foraging territories, attacking invading insects with specialized abdominal spines to secure mating rights. - **Abdominal Pollen Transport:** Unlike bumblebees that carry pollen on their hind legs, females carry pollen on a dense brush of hairs located on the underside of their abdomen. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 1+ cm - **Wingspan:** 1+ cm - **Weight:** 0.00005+ kg - **Lifespan:** 1+ years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5+ - **Incubation:** 3+ days ## Diet & Feeding Larvae feed on a rich mixture of pollen and nectar provisioned by the mother, while adults feed exclusively on nectar for energy. - **Primary Foods:** Lotus corniculatus pollen, Sedum nectar, Reseda nectar, Fabaceae pollen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Host plant:** [Biting Stonecrop](https://www.snappit.app/explore/biting-stonecrop) (*Sedum acre*) — A major source of nectar and pollen for foraging adults and nest provisioning. - **Competitor:** [European Woolcarder Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-woolcarder-bee) (*Anthidium manicatum*) — Competes for nesting sites and foraging resources in similar urban and wild habitats. - **Host plant:** [Broad-leaved Willowherb](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broad-leaved-willowherb) (*Epilobium montanum*) — Females harvest the soft, woolly seed fibers or leaf hairs from this and related plants to construct nest cells. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Oblong Woolcarder 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. ### How long is Oblong Woolcarder Bee? 1+ cm ### What is Oblong Woolcarder Bee's wingspan? 1+ cm ### How much does Oblong Woolcarder Bee weigh? 0.00005+ kg ### How long does Oblong Woolcarder Bee live? 1+ years ### How fast can Oblong Woolcarder Bee move? 15 km/h ### What does Oblong Woolcarder Bee eat? Larvae feed on a rich mixture of pollen and nectar provisioned by the mother, while adults feed exclusively on nectar for energy. ### Where is Oblong Woolcarder Bee usually found? Found in warm, sunny habitats such as dry meadows, rocky hillsides, urban gardens, and parks with plentiful gravel, masonry, and nectar-producing plants. ## Where to spot - [Derryfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/derryfield-park) — New Hampshire, US · Park - [Sam Smith Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sam-smith-park) — Washington, US · Park ## 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: [Oblong Woolcarder Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oblong-woolcarder-bee)