Biology
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Mason bees nest in cavities such as in dry-stone walls and holes in trees. In the UK, this species shows a preference for the former, but sites in rock faces and dead standing trees are also used. The nest cells are constructed with sand grains or mud, bound together with saliva or water collected from a nearby source.The female bees lay one egg in each cell, and provision the cell with pollen and nectar, collected from bird's-foot trefoil. The western mason bee is sometimes the victim of parasitism by the cuckoo wasp Chrysura hirsuta.
Conservation
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The western mason bee is listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plans (UKBAPs), and included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme (SRP). Following surveys on several of the sites where this species is known to occur, it has been discovered that the principal conservation measure for this species is the management of bird's-foot trefoil. However, it is also important to establish just how many populations of this bee exist throughout the UK. Work on saving the western mason bee could also benefit two other species of mason bees as well as the parasitic wasp, Chrysura hirsuta.
Description
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The mason bees are a family of solitary bees in which the queens construct individual nest cells and do not form colonies. The western mason bee is a medium-sized, predominantly black bee, with ginger-coloured 'fur' round the top of the abdomen.
Habitat
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This species shows a preference for upland herb-rich pasture and woodland glades and clearings with an abundance of its sole pollen resource, bird's-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Dry-stone walls, rocky outcrops and standing dead trees provide essential nesting sites.
Range
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This bee is found across most of Europe, but is confined largely to hilly or mountainous wooded areas. In the UK it has been recently recorded from Lancashire and Cumbria, and is also present in small numbers in scattered localities in Scotland, and two sites in North Wales.
Status
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Classified as Rare in the UK.
Threats
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Agricultural change, through increased grazing of herb-rich upland meadows with bird's-foot trefoil, and the reduction in the management of woodland resulting in the loss of open, sunny, flower-rich glades and clearings have accelerated the decline of this species. Conversion of meadows to silage, rye-grass leys or arable production has also affected this bee. The loss of sunny, rocky outcrops through scrub encroachment, and the removal or destruction of dry-stone walls and standing dead wood, has limited the availability of nest sites.
Associations
provided by BioImages, the virtual fieldguide, UK
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / nest
female of Osmia parietina provisions nest with pollen of Lotus corniculatus
Other: sole host/prey
Osmia parietina
provided by wikipedia EN
Osmia parietina, also known as the Western mason bee or wall mason bee, is a species of solitary bee within the family Megachilidae.[1]
Description
Osmia parietina is mostly black in colour, however possesses ginger pubescence on top of the abdomen.[1] They are a medium sized bee, which can be found in flight between the months of May and July.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Osmia parietina can be found across Europe, however is mostly restricted to upland, hilly and mountainous areas.[1] It has been recorded throughout much of Northern Eurasia including the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece and Russia.[2]
Osmia parietina is associated with areas of unimproved grassland, where their primary nectar source bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) grows. They also have a preference for upland herb rich pastures and woodland glades. Females build their nests inside the crevices of drystone walls, rock faces and standing deadwood.[1]
Ecology
Although L. corniculatus is the primary nectar source for Osmia parietina, it has been recorded visiting flowers of other plant species such as: Ajuga reptans, Hippocrepis comosa, Rubus fruticosus, Sedum reflexum, Trifolium pratense and Veronica chamaedrys.[2]
The Western mason bee is also one of several host species for the parasitic Northern Osmia ruby-tailed wasp (Chrysura hirsuta).[3]
Threats
The overgrazing of meadows where bird's-foot trefoil grow means that the plant cannot successfully flower, this harms the Osmia parietina population as bird's-foot trefoil is their primary source of nectar. Poor management of woodland habitats can also cause their population to decline. Sunny glades and woodland clearings are essential habitats for wildflowers, if these clearings are not maintained the wildflowers are eventually shaded out by shrubs and trees, which accelerates the decline of O. parietina. The loss of sunny rock habitats for the bees to nest in due to shrub encroachment also threatens the species. Human activity such as the manual removal of drystone walls and standing deadwood also removes essential sites for nests to be built.[1]
References
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^ a b c d e "Osmia parietina Curtis, 1828". Nbnatlas.org. 2022-08-20. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
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^ a b c Edwards, M. (2012). "Osmia parietina Curtis,1828". Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording Society (BWARS). Retrieved 2022-08-19.
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^ Paukkunen, Juho; Berg, Alexander; Soon, Villu; Ødegaard, Frode; Rosa, Paolo (2015-12-23). "An illustrated key to the cuckoo wasps (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae) of the Nordic and Baltic countries, with description of a new species". ZooKeys. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
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- cc-by-sa-3.0
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Osmia parietina: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Osmia parietina, also known as the Western mason bee or wall mason bee, is a species of solitary bee within the family Megachilidae.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
