Osmia xanthomelana
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| Osmia xanthomelana | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Megachilidae |
| Genus: | Osmia |
| Species: | O. xanthomelana |
| Binomial name | |
| Osmia xanthomelana (Kirby, 1802) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Osmia xanthomelana, the large mason bee, is a species of mason bee in the genus Osmia. It has a wide distribution in the Palearctic but it is rare wherever it occurs and, for example, in Great Britain it has a highly restricted distribution, although in the past it was a little more widespread there.
Osmia xanthomelana is a medium-sized bee, measuring 12–13mm in length with a stocky, robust structure. The main colour is black but it has golden to brown hairs which cover the face and thorax becoming sparser and paler on the abdomen.[3]
Distribution
Osmia xanthomelana is widely distributed throughout the Palearctic but it is apparently rare wherever it occurs.[3] In Great Britain it is currently found only in two locations on the Llŷn Peninsula, in Gwynedd, Wales.[4]
Habitat
Osmia xanthomelana is found around eroded cliffs of softer rocks such as clay and chalk, among landslips, dunes and in semi-natural and unimproved grassland where its food plant bird's-foot trefoil occurs. To be suitable a site should also have a supply of freshwater from seepages which is needed for the bee to construct its cells for breeding.[3]
Biology
In Great Britain male Osmia xanthomelana are recorded from April and the females are slightly later in May with both sexes being recorded up to July. The nests are usually dug out in south-east facing eroded banks, occasionally burrows from previous seasons are reused after being cleaned out by the female. The females collect freshwater from seepages around the base of the cliff to make mud which is then combined with grit to the construct the nest cells. There are normally five or six cells per nest. The cells may be stood in a cluster with their bases in the ground if a burrow is not used. The cells are each sealed with a flat lid made of the same material as they are constructed. The cells are provisioned with pollen from bird's-foot trefoil although O. xanthomelana will nectar on a variety of plants such as horseshoe vetch, bramble and bugle. The wasp Sapyga quinquepunctata is known to kleptoparasitise this bee, its larvae feeding on the stored pollen.[3][2]