In this page there is information on dead Red Mason Bee (Osmia Bicomis) anatomy and photos that were found in my home on the window sill, in Vilcabamba Loja, Ecuador.
This bee body is red in color and gingery hairy down on head. The bee is part of the Mason Bee family
About.
The bee males are normally smaller than the female bee, and less hairy. A good stingless bee to have in your garden.
A mason bee is a solitary bee group but are available in big numbers and form a big importance in the commercial pollination.
The anatomy is the same as the honey bee.
The proboscis is totally exposed as the bee was dead.
How they Breed.
The Red Mason Bee builds nests and lays eggs in the same way as the other species of mason bees do. By building their nests in pre-made tunnels that are left behind by other insects and wood boring beetles. Or the hollows of dead branches, trees and reeds.
The female mason bee divides her nest into partitions and gathers pollen and starts filling these hollow nesting places with pollen, then lays a single egg, then closes that compartment up with s thin layer of mud. (that’s why they are called mason bee).
Then she places pollen again and lays a single egg then closes it again with a thin layer of mud. Continues in this way until the hollow is filled, then finally closes it with a thicker layer of mud. To protect against any predator that may try and enter and eat her young.
The pollen is there for the pupa and young bee to feed from and grow. Normally for about 10 days.
The bees life span is about 4 to 6 weeks, they die after this process.
Note the picture above; The hairy legs that gather and keep the pollen, called a pollen basket.
The red mason bee on this page is one that is dead. Note those amazing wings they have.
Two pairs of strong wings.
More photo’s of red mason bee pollinating flowers.
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