Mason Bees

Types of Bees Types of Bees Types of Wasps

Mason Bees, a genus (Osmia) of bees in the family Megachilidae, get their name based on their habit of building nests in already available holes in wood, supplementing the nest with mud.

They are considered beneficial pollinators, with some species, such as the Orchard Mason Bee (Osmia lignaria) raised for that purpose.

The top picture shows a species with a green metallic body.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels