# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Red Mason Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Osmia_rufa_couple_%28aka%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Osmia_rufa_couple_%28aka%29.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Megachilidae - **Genus:** Osmia ## 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 - **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. - **Mud Builder Master:** Red Mason Bees can construct intricate nests by packing mud into existing tunnels, creating individual chambers for each egg. - **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 - **Pollinates:** [Apple tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/apple-tree) (*Malus domestica*) — Crucial for fruit production. - **Pollinates:** [Peach tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peach-tree) (*Prunus persica*) — Helps ripen delicious peaches. - **Depends on:** [Common dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Feeds on early spring blooms. - **Parasitizes:** Chalcid wasp (*Monodontomerus obsoletus*) — Lays eggs inside bee cocoons. ## 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. - [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 Don't try to touch bees; just watch them from a distance as they work! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red Mason 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 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 ## 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: [Red Mason Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-mason-bee)