As you can see from the photo, these beneficial insects look more like black flies and have a blue tint in the sunlight. But about 10 years ago, Watts started using blue orchard bees as well. Like any Mason bee, the Blue Orchard bee will lay eggs on a stockpile of pollen and then mud the little partition up and start the process again. mason bees don’t sting. The orchard mason bee is usually slightly smaller than a honey bee and a shiny dark blue in color. The Blue Orchard Mason bee is commonly found in the coastal regions and the southern interior of BC. Mason Bees. Kyle, When I see solitary wasps building in some of the tubes, I just let them alone. These bees are not available to fertilize later food crops as the parent bees die in early summer. Mason bee identification. Blue orchard mason bees (BOBs) are fascinating, friendly bees. Bees can also be removed by vacuuming. This is the food for the future bee larva. That is, females work hard—they do ALL the work. Three areas were selected and surveyed for appropriate habitat, reduced threats, and possible The female orchard mason bee then backs into the tunnel and lays an egg atop the pollen mix. It lays its egg in the orchard bee nest (in the provision of pollen). “Mason bee” is a general name for bees that build chambered nests in small crevices or holes using collected mud. In contrast, orchard bees have little to defend and will only sting in self-defense. Woodpeckers and wood-boring insects provide many of their nesting holes. Their research focuses on blue orchard bees, a type of mason bee that is native to Arkansas and many other areas of the U.S. Joshi said they are easy to identify because of their iridescent blue color. These garden helpers are unassuming, non-aggressive, and completely safe to have around your kids and pets. So orchardists benefit by providing nesting sites for orchard bees. Mason bees do not sting. It is found throughout most of North America. A mason bee sting is similar to a mosquito bite. Orchard Mason Bees . bees are under threat, it is logical to focus our efforts on restoring native bee populations. The blue orchard bee or Osmia lignaria, is prized for its efficiency pollinating fruit trees and is one of the few native pollinators that is managed in agriculture. Because of their docile behavior, mason bees are preferred by people who desire pollination in urban settings. The orchard mason bee is non-aggressive and will sting only if handled roughly or if it should get trapped under clothing. lignaria—commonly called the blue orchard bee or mason bee—is easy for western Oregon gardeners to nurture. Blue Orchard Mason Bees are expert pollinators and DON’T sting (the males don’t even have a stinger). They are metallic blue/black and are smaller than typical honeybees (so they look like flies). Bee populations have dropped by 50 percent in the last 25 years! Orchard mason bees ( Osmia lignaria) are solitary, pollinating bees. It is also known as the orchard mason bee because it uses mud to build its nests. Of course, apples aren’t all the mason bee is good for, and there are many more species than the blue orchard and Japanese orchard. He specializes in research on pollinator health, fruit entomology, integrated pest management and pesticide toxicology. Female Mason Bee cocoons are 3” or deeper in the holes. Space nesting shelters for mason bees at 200-yard intervals around, and inside, the area to be pollinated. They are most commonly seen inspecting and entering between shake house siding, nail holes, and other wood cavities during March to June. The red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) is an endangered mason bee found in lowland England and Wales. The Blue Orchard Mason bee is a wonderful insect to have around your home. What is the typical range of mason bees? O. Females carry pollen on the undersides of their abdomens. The offspring kill the developing blue orchard mason bee and eat its provisions Most people who works with orchard mason bees have never been stung. Out in nature, orchard mason bees live in tunnels left behind by wood boring insects. Since they cannot bore their own tunnels, they are always looking for an available nesting site. They are not aggressive, don’t sting, and quietly go about their business as prolific pollinators. America. The protection of the hive is so important that worker bees will give their lives to protect it. Many species are even stingless. Orchard mason bees, like all mason bees, are very shy and will only sting if they perceive serious danger. Blue orchard bees are about the same size as a honeybee but there are a few key points that help you tell them apart. One Mason bee in particular, the Blue Orchard bee, is a popular commercial pollinator. A female is considered non-aggressive, stings only when handled ‘roughly,’ or when trapped under clothing. • Depending on the crop 1 (0ne) Mason Bee can pollinate as much as 75-200 Honey Bees. Lifestyle: Orchard Mason bees build nest cells in … They are slightly smaller than honey bees and are shiny dark blue or almost black in color. Mason bees (Osmia species) are CAVITY NESTING BEES. Blue Orchard Bees Mason Bees! The Orchard Mason Bee, Blue Orchard Bee, Orchard Bee and Mason Bee are all common names for Osmia lignaria, a north American native pollinating bee that is a wonderfully effective pollinator of early spring crops like cherry, plum, prune, Asian pear, raspberry and blueberries. Thanks to their black bodies with the typical dark blue sheen, they look a lot like the common houseflies. The male Mason bee does not sting. Blue Bee (Orchard Mason Bee) Scientific Name of the Blue Bee – Osmia lignaria. The bees are fairly easy to differentiate: orchard mason bees have a bluish to blue-greenish color over their THE ORCHARD MASON BEES . Fruit trees are not required in order for you to be a beekeeper; … The Blue Orchard Bee gathers the pollen, but being dry, much of it falls off and as a result, they pollinate nearly every flower they visit. These bees tend to favor tube-shaped or asymmetrical flowers such as plants from the mint and legume families. 6 Mason Bee Varieties Found Around The Globe: Osmia lignaria; Eastern Snail Shell Mason Bee Blue Orchard Mason Bees are delivered while still in their cocoons, mature and ready to hatch. Three areas were selected and surveyed for appropriate habitat, reduced threats, and possible Stelis (cuckoo bee): Closely related to the blue orchard mason though it is smaller, moves more sporadic around the nest, and is unable to transport pollen. Since Mason Bees are solitary bees and do not make hives, they are always looking for a place to make a home. They are native to North America and are solitary bees, which means they don’t live in a hive, don’t have a queen bee, and all the females are able to lay eggs. Typically, blue orchard mason bees inhabit wooded areas and are often in and around wood homes and structures. All are solitary bees. Orchard Mason Bee Overview The orchard mason bee, Osmia lignaria, is an effective early pollinator native to the Western US and Canada. In fact, just 250-300 female blue orchard mason bees are needed to pollinate an acre of apple trees. You will find mason bees setting up residence in … Mason bees (Osmia species) are CAVITY NESTING BEES. Orchard Mason Bee Overview The orchard mason bee, Osmia lignaria, is an effective early pollinator native to the Western US and Canada. She lays a single egg on top of the pollen “loaf” and then seals the egg and pollen into its own chamber. Mason bees fill a unique niche in our area: they are active in early spring, before most other pollinators. Mason bees do not produce honey, are not aggressive and do not sting. Orchard bees (or mason bees, Osmia lignaria) work blossoms even when the weather is not ideal, and unlike honeybees, they prefer to work fruit tree blossoms even when other pollen sources are available. Stelis (cuckoo bee): Closely related to the blue orchard mason though it is smaller, moves more sporadic around the nest, and is unable to transport pollen. One may also ask, are mason bees protected? Mason bees fill a unique niche in our area: they are active in early spring, before most other pollinators. Active from spring through the summer, these bees are effective pollinators of many orchard fruits and vegetables and aid in crop seed production. Chris Blank, Gallia County Bee Inspector, said that while the Mason bee is a hardy native species, there is cause for concern from the effects of pesticides. Other info: • Female Mason Bee cocoons are laid in the holes first and then the male cocoons. A mason bee sting is similar to a mosquito bite. Persons severely allergic to bee stings should use caution, although the likelihood of being stung by an orchard mason bee is very slight. Osmia lignaria, commonly known as the orchard mason bee or blue orchard bee, is a megachilid bee that makes nests in reeds and natural holes, creating individual cells for its brood that are separated by mud dividers. Mason Bee Lifecycle Adult Orchard Mason bees live only a few short weeks. Attracting a variety of pollinators. This kit will help attract these beneficial bees to your garden. bees are under threat, it is logical to focus our efforts on restoring native bee populations. Orchard mason bees — also known as blue orchard bees, or most commonly simply as mason bees — are human-friendly early spring pollinators of flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees. The biology of chalkbrood in the blue orchard bee is very similar to chalkbrood in the alfalfa leafcutting bee. Male mason bees can't sting. Blue orchard mason bees have a single generation each year. Blue Orchard Mason Bees are expert pollinators and DON’T sting (the males don’t even have a stinger). His father started the business in 1965 with leafcutter bees. Osmia Lignaria, referred to as the orchard mason bee or blue orchard bee, is the most common species found in the Pacific Northwest. These energetic little bees do not produce honey and do not swarm; they simply flit from flower to … The stinger is actually an egg guide. One mason bee in particular, the blue orchard bee, is a … Habitat loss, climate change and pesticides have all contributed to this decline. They favor woodlands, orchards and forest edges. They are one of the first emerging bees in spring, just in time to coincide with early blooming fruit and nut trees. As a pollinator, it is far more efficient than the honeybee by transferring more pollen and visiting more types and numbers of flowers. “Mason bee” is a general name for bees that build chambered nests in small crevices or holes using collected mud. They range throughout most of the United States and southern Canada. Many of these species of bees lack the hairiness of other bees, sometimes causing them to be mistaken for wasps. These bees tend to favor tube-shaped or asymmetrical flowers such as plants from the mint and legume families. About Mason Bees. Line Sabroe/Flickr. Reply. A male’s job is to mate. ... even surpass the work of a hive of 20,000 to 25,000 honey bees in a one acre orchard of apple trees. Orchard Mason Bee Overview The orchard mason bee, Osmia lignaria, is an effective early pollinator native to the Western US and Canada. The orchard mason bee is usually slightly smaller than a honey bee and a shiny dark blue … These bees tend to favor tube-shaped or asymmetrical flowers such as plants from the mint and legume families. They do not sting as they don’t have a hive or a queen to protect. One of the hardest working and easily attracted to the garden is Osmia lignaria, the orchard mason bee or blue orchard bee. They cannot make their own nesting holes; so they rely on nature. Colletidae: Colletids are solitary bees which nest in pithy stems of plants. Whether you own a garden, a farm, or a grove, you’re sure to benefit from the top-quality bees and propagating tubes from Urban Pollinators LLC. The orchard mason bee or the blue orchard bee Osmia Lignaria is the most common species in the Pacific Northwest. Mason Bees are native pollinators found across North America and, to put it lightly, they are a home gardener’s best friend — especially if you have veggies or fruit trees that need pollinating.. Here’s why: They are gentle by nature. Other books on Osmia lignaria (Blue Orchard Bees -- BOB's) are perhaps more "readable", such as Brian Griffith's even older book on Mason Bees. Females are robust and larger (14 mm) than the male bees (11-12 mm) and resemble a small, hairy, black fly. THE MASON BEE. Although they appear black, these small bees are actually a dark, metallic green or blue. Males don’t even have stingers and females only sting if you try to hold hands with them. The nesting tubes in your habitat are suitable for the blue Orchard Bee (Osmia lignaria), Horned Mason Bee (Osmia cornifrons), Blue Mason Bee (Osmia caerulescens), Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee (Megachile rotundata), Rose Leaf-Cutter Bee (Megachile centuncularis) So let’s recap the benefits of incorporating Mason Bees in your yard or garden: Very little is known about the diseases of blue orchard bees, but the most common disease is chalkbrood, caused by fungi in the genus Ascosphaera. The orchard mason bee, or blue orchard bee, is a metallic blue-black species about 13 mm (0.5 in) long. The Blue Orchard Mason Bee normally establishes its home in the wild. The first job for a female is to find a place to make a nest. From the genus Osmia, of the family Megachilidae, mason bees are usually black or metallic blue-green, though sometimes very brightly colored.Mason bees range in size but are typically about half the size of a honey bee, and they don’t sting, so they’re an uncomplicated beneficial insect to invite into the garden. Unlike honey bees, blue orchard bees … well, don’t make honey. They get their name from their habit of using mud and other “masonry” materials to construct and build their nests. One Mason bee in particular, the Blue Orchard bee, is a popular commercial pollinator. This bee, native to North America, specializes in collecting pollen from the flowers of fruit trees. 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