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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees » Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies (Megachilidae) » Leafcutter, Resin, Mortar, Sharptail, Mason, and Woolcarder bees and relatives (Megachilinae) » Mason bees and relatives (Osmiini) » Mason Bees (Osmia) » Subgenus Osmia (Osmia Subgenus Osmia) » Taurus Mason Bee (Osmia taurus)
Photo#14880
Mason Bee - Osmia taurus - male
Copyright © 2005 Richard Leung

Mason Bee - Osmia taurus - Male
Springfield, Fairfax County, Virginia, USA
April 8, 2005
A hairy brown bee, which I don't recall seeing before. It was smaller than a bumble bee, though I don't remember the exact size. Any help identifying is appreciated.
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Contributed by Richard Leung on 13 April, 2005 - 8:22pm
Last updated 23 April, 2007 - 9:30am

Moved
Moved from Osmia.
… John S. Ascher, 23 April, 2007 - 9:30am login or register to post comments

Osma (Osmia) taurus [or less likely O. cornifrons]
very similar to O. cornifrons; I believe this to be O. taurus based on hair color but am not certain

O. taurus from East Asia and a Japanese parasitoid wasp that attacks native Osmia species both mysteriously appeared in Maryland after O. cornifrons from Japan were deliberately released in Maryland by USDA scientists.

relevant information from the Discover Life ID guide for Osmia males:

O. cornifrons - "Scutum, scutellum, T1 and T2 hairs off-white to tan, with scattered black hairs intermixed on the scutum and scutellum, however these sometimes absent"

O. taurus - "Scutum, scutellum, T1 and T2 hairs clearly orange to burn sienna, no black hairs intermixed"
… John S. Ascher, 25 September, 2006 - 4:35pm login or register to post comments

Male mason bee.
This is a male bee in the genus Osmia (family Megachilidae, leafcutter, resin, and mason bees). If you see a bee sitting on foliage, btw, most likely it is a male. Not always, but they perch where they can look out for passing females. Nice image!
… Eric R. Eaton, 14 April, 2005 - 7:10pm login or register to post comments

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