Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis
This little bee appeared in our garden in April 2000 for the first time. It keeps on returning ever since. It is smaller than the Honey Bee, with striking yellow reddish hairs, even on the legs. During the night and when the weather is bad it stays in a small cavity in our shed. It hides there in a small group of some 8 animals. As soon as the sun returns, they fly away. They are important pollinators in spring, e.g. for apple trees, cherries etc. It is the Red Mason Bee.It is very easy to tell males and females apart. Males have white hairs on their face. The face of females is covered in shorter, black hairs. In early spring, often in March the males appear first and stick together waiting for the females to appear. There are some 20 species of Mason Bees in the Benelux.
The Red Mason Bee is also referred to as the Red Solitary Bee. In the USA Mason Bees are usually called Orchard Bees. The scientific name of this species used to be Osmia rufa.
