Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
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.
tag · login or register to post comments
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

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact