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Photo#524523
ID for a leaf-cutting bee? - Osmia

ID for a leaf-cutting bee? - Osmia
Claremont, Los Angeles County, California, USA
May 30, 2011
I have recently been trying to document pollinators of the Wedge-Leaf Honeydew, Horkelia cuneata ssp. puberula, at the Claremont Colleges' Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station. Nearly every time I've looked, I seen bright metallic green or blue-green bees -- but not on the flowers. Instead they have been busy doing something down in the leaves. Well, I finally realized they were cutting pieces out of the leaves as you can see in photo. It was difficult to get a photo of the whole bee, as they mostly are standing on the top side of the leaf with their heads bent clear around to the underneath side. I am assuming that this is an Osmia, and if so, that there's little chance of identification beyond genus, but any information about its identity will be greatly appreciated.

Images of another individual photographed at the same time:

Images of this individual: tag all
ID for a leaf-cutting bee? - Osmia ID for a leaf-cutting bee? - Osmia ID for a leaf-cutting bee? - Osmia

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Thanks!
Thanks for confirming the genus! They certainly seem to love the leaves of this plant.

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