Osmia californica
| Osmia californica | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Megachilidae |
| Genus: | Osmia |
| Species: | O. californica
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| Binomial name | |
| Osmia californica Cresson, 1864
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Osmia californica is a megachilid bee, or mason bee. Native to North America, the mason bees are important pollinators, with O. california pollinating over 33 genera from 13 plant families.[1] O. californica generally emerges a little later in the spring than the better known orchard mason bee (O. lignaria). Like the orchard mason bee, O. californica is a solitary nester, usually constructing nests with leaf pulp providing a partition within the nest to protect the egg chamber.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Cripps, C.; Rust, R. W. (1 August 1989). "Pollen Foraging in a Community of Osmia Bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)". Environmental Entomology. 18 (4): 582–589. doi:10.1093/ee/18.4.582.
- ^ Torchio, P. F. (1 September 1989). "In-Nest Biologies and Development of Immature Stages of Three Osmia Species (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 82 (5): 599–615. doi:10.1093/aesa/82.5.599.