Gold-Fringed Mason Bee

Gold-Fringed Mason Bee

(Osmia aurulenta)

This small bee is found in sand dunes along the east coast of Ireland. It is the only Irish bee species that nests inside empty snail shells. Females spend a long time searching for the best shell to nest in.

Male bees set up a territory around a snail shell and defend this area in the hope of attracting a mate.

The Leafcutter Bees, Sharp-Tail Bees & Mason Bees

This large family of bees contains more than 4,000 species worldwide, including nine species that live in Ireland. This group includes the Leafcutter Bees (Megachile species), the Sharp-Tail Bees (Coelioxys species),and the Mason Bees (Osmia species).

Leafcutter Bees chew off circular pieces of leaf and use these to make their nests. They collect pollen and feed it to their young.

Sharp-tail bees do not make their own nest. They lay their eggs inside a leaf-cutter bee nest and steal their food.

Mason bees mostly use mud to build nests inside natural cracks.