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Mason Bee
Photo Credit: Joseph Burger, Bugwood.org
Unlike the Honeybee, most bee species lead solitary lives.
According to the University of Minnesota Bee Lab website Solitary bees make up about 98% of the native bee species in the United States. These solitary bees come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. They exhibit a variety of different behaviors, too. For all the differences, the one trait all these species have in common is that they live alone.
Solitary species like carpenter bees, mason bees and some sweat bees, carry on their lives in a very different manner from their social counterparts. The adult female lives independently without any shared work duties with others of her species. She performs all the duties usually delegated to different members in a hive setting.
Depending on the species, the female may create her nest underground, in the hollows of plants, in rock crevices, or with a plastic-like material she creates.
Mason Bees are important pollinators of spring-blooming wild plants and cultivated fruit trees. These tiny masonry experts use mud, chewed leaves, and even small pebbles to seal their nests, which can be found in standing dead trees, pithy plant stems, or abandoned wasp nests. As solitary cavity‑nesters, mason bees seek out hollow stems, drilled wood, or bamboo tubes. They skillfully collect mud to build partitions and cap brood cells in these cavities—a behavior that gives the group its charming name
Your garden can serve as a refuge for these important pollinators by including nesting habitat, forage, and avoiding the use of pesticides. Mason Bees are particularly fond of Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum), Spiderwort (Tradescantia sp.), Cherry and Plum trees (Prunus sp.), and Beardtounge (Penstemon sp.).
They don't swarm, are non‑aggressive, and most don't sting unless handled roughly
How to Help the Mason Bees
Plant native blooming trees, shrubs, and wildflowers to provide pollinators with nectar and pollen to eat.
Plant for variety in color, sizes and seasons.
Provide nesting habitats for solitary bees.
Participate in citizen science activities! (see below)
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