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Red Mason Bee

Osmia bicornis

The Red Mason Bee is a friendly little bee that loves to help flowers grow by spreading pollen. They are great builders and make cozy homes out of mud!

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Red Mason Bee has a stocky, dark body with a thick covering of bright, rusty orange-red hairs on its abdomen, making it easily distinguishable. Its head and thorax are typically black, and females have distinctive horns on their face. Unlike honeybees, they carry pollen on stiff hairs under their belly.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyMegachilidaeGenusOsmia
Red Mason Bee
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Red Mason Bee

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Instead of honey, these bees collect a special 'bee bread' (pollen and nectar) to feed their growing babies.

One Red Mason Bee can pollinate as many flowers as 100 honeybees in a day!

These tiny 'solitary bees' don't live in big hives; each female builds her own nursery!

They're called 'mason' bees because they use mud, just like a mason uses bricks, to build their nests.

Special abilities

Ability

Super Pollinator Pouch

Red Mason Bees have a unique scopa (pollen brush) under their belly that helps them carry pollen more efficiently, making them excellent plant pollinators.

Ability

Mud Builder Master

Red Mason Bees can construct intricate nests by packing mud into existing tunnels, creating individual chambers for each egg.

Ability

Gentle Nature

Red Mason Bees are very gentle and rarely sting because their main focus is on gathering pollen and nectar, not defending a colony.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
15-25 mm
Size
8-12 mm
Lifespan
20-40 days
Flight Speed
12 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

They sip nectar for energy and gather pollen to feed their babies.

Primary Foods

  • nectar
  • pollen
  • apple blossom
  • dandelion

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Don't try to touch bees; just watch them from a distance as they work!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Red Mason Bee's wingspan?

15-25 mm

How big is Red Mason Bee?

8-12 mm

How long does Red Mason Bee live?

20-40 days

How fast can Red Mason Bee fly?

12 km/h

What does Red Mason Bee eat?

They sip nectar for energy and gather pollen to feed their babies.

Where is Red Mason Bee usually found?

Urban areas

How does Red Mason Bee hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Red Mason Bee have?

6

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