Red Mason Bee - Osmia bicornis

Greyish-brown hair on the thorax and orange-red on the abdomen. The head features two inwardly-curved facial horns below the antennae. The only other British Osmia species with this feature is O. cornuta, which resembles a large black and bright orange version of bicornis. Males resemble females but are smaller and less robust with much longer antennae. The males are smaller than the females (6mm versus 11mm).

Osmia cornuta

Detailed photos show key identification features required. 

In a variety of habitats, often in parks and gardens, likes bee hotels. Important pollinators of fruit trees.

The Red Mason Bee is active from early spring, the males being first to appear when the weather becomes mild in March, the female emerging later. Adults fly from March until July.

It is a solitary bee, each nest being the work of a single female bee working alone. They nest in pre-existing cavities such as hollow plant stems, old garden canes, air bricks, and even old nail holes in fence posts, lining the inside of the cavity with mud.

Widespread and fairly frequent in England and Wales, less records from further north.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.

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