The solitary mason bee is a North American native pollinator that deserves more attention and respect. Honeybees do a lot of pollinating, but they are not native, their populations are in decline, and they are not as efficient at pollinating as some other species, including mason bees. Learn more about this humble bee and how to support it in your garden. What Are Mason Bees? There are over 100 species of mason bee in the genus Osmia, including orchard mason bees known for pollinating in orchards. Unlike our friend the honeybee, the mason bee is solitary and does not make honey. It also differs in appearance. Many mason bee species are black and can be mistaken for flies. You can tell them apart by the wings. Flies have just one pair, while bees have two. As a solitary animal, the mason bee nests alone in small cavities. It will find […]
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