HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

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

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

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 Helicosmia (Osmia Subgenus Helicosmia) » Osmia caerulescens

Species Osmia caerulescens

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References

Cute Metallic Bee - Osmia caerulescens - female

Osmia Bee ? (1) - Osmia caerulescens - female

Striped Hairy Belly Bee - Osmia caerulescens

Osmia Id Request - Osmia caerulescens - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)

No Taxon (Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees)

Family Megachilidae (Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies)

Subfamily Megachilinae (Leafcutter, Resin, Mortar, Sharptail, Mason, and Woolcarder bees and relatives)

Tribe Osmiini (Mason bees and relatives)

Genus Osmia (Mason Bees)

No Taxon (Subgenus Helicosmia)

Species caerulescens (Osmia caerulescens)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Andrena cupraria

Andrena cyanea

Anthophora cyanea

Apis aenea

Apis cuprea

Apis muraria

Apis superbus

Megachile cyanea

Osmia coerulescens

Osmia cyanea

Osmia dutti

Osmia rustica

Osmia purpurea

Explanation of Names

Author of Species is (Linnaeus, 1758).

Size

Female: 10-11 mm, male 9 mm.

Identification

Osmia caerulescens is described at Discover Life.

Female dark blue, almost black. Male brassy green.

Range

Global Map.

Minnesota to Nova Scotia, south to Illinois and North Carolina.

Season

March to July.

Food

Polylectic. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.

Life Cycle

Nests are constructed within existing cavities, including insect exit burrows in dead wood, crevices in masonry, and trap-nests

Remarks

Not native, introduced from the Old World

Internet References

BWARS

Discover Life

Contributed by Ted Kropiewnicki on 17 March, 2008 - 10:41pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, hg
Last updated 20 August, 2015 - 3:01pm

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 © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version