Mason Bees

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Animal / parasitoid / endoparasitoid
larva of Chrysura hirsuta is endoparasitoid of larva of Osmia

Animal / parasitoid / endoparasitoid
larva of Chrysura radians is endoparasitoid of larva of Osmia

Animal / parasitoid / endoparasitoid
solitary larva of Conops flavipes is endoparasitoid of adult of Osmia

Animal / parasite
larva of Stelis phaeoptera parasitises nest of Osmia

Bees in the genus Osmia are collectively called mason bees or orchard mason bees because they cap their nests with mud. Mason bees, along with leafcutter bees ( Megachile spp.), make up two main groups in the Megachilidae family. Mason bees are abundant throughout Europe, the Mediterranean basin, southwestern Asia, and western North America. They are also found in eastern North America and eastern Asia, but are less common; these bees are not found in the southern hemisphere. Mason bees are typically metallic green or blue, but some species are blackish colored. Mason bees are easily recognized because, unlike most bees that carry pollen on their legs, they carry pollen on the underside of their abdomens. Generally mason bees are good pollinators of blooming fruit trees, such as apple (Malus domestica), apricot (Prunus armeniaca), peach (Prunus persica), plum (Prunus spp.), cherry (Prunus spp.), and pear (Pyrus spp.). They also pollinate strawberry (Fragaria spp.), raspberry (Rubus spp.), blackberry (Rubus spp.), cranberry (Vaccinium spp.), and blueberry (Vaccinium spp.).

Mason bees are solitary nesters, but are gregarious so prefer to nest in groups. Males emerge in the spring and females emerge several days later, living for about six weeks. Females mate soon after emerging and begin nesting within three to four days. Females lay a single egg on a nectar-pollen provision and then seal the cell with a thin mud plug. The female continues building the nest in this way and then seals it with a thick mud plug, laying as many as 35 eggs. Larvae hatch from the eggs after a few days and feed on the nectar-pollen provision. The larvae then go through a non-feeding pupal stage. Pupae turn into adults by mid-fall and emerge the following spring.

Several species of mason bees are currently being used or are being studied for use as commercial pollinators. The hornfaced bee ( Osmia cornifrons ) is the primary pollinator of apple orchards in Japan, and has been cultivated for this purpose. It was introduced to the United States in the 1970's and is managed commercially to pollinate apple orchards in California, Oregon, and parts of the northeastern United States. The blue orchard bee ( Osmia lignaria ) is a great pollinator of early spring crops, and is managed commercially because it is easily reared, is a highly efficient pollinator, and requires fewer bees to pollinate crops than honey bees. The blueberry bee ( Osmia ribifloris ) is being evaluated as a commercial pollinator of blueberry in the eastern United States. Mason bees make good commercial pollinators for several reasons. These bees naturally make nests in tunnels in wood and other cavities; this nesting habitat is easy to mimic and mason bees accept artificial nests. Additionally, these bees are low cost and require little care. In some cases mason bees are actually better pollinators than honey bees (Apis mellifera) because they fly in cooler weather and individual mason bees move more between trees.

Diagnosis.

Males of Osmia aquilonaria are most similar to the palearctic species Osmia svenssoni and Osmia steinmanni , but can be differentiated from them by the shape and pilosity of S4 and gonoforceps (See Table 2). Osmia aquilonaria males can be distinguished from all other members of the inermis species group (except Osmia svenssoni and Osmia steinmanni ) by the special form of the hairs on S4 (i.e., with two patches of hooked bristles both along apical margin and on premarginal area, along apical margin the bristles oriented horizontally and on premarginal area directed increasingly vertically, Figs 24, 25).

Females of Osmia aquilonaria can be distinguished from the only other nearctic member of the inermis species group, Osmia laticeps , by the more pointed third tooth and the parallel condylar and outer ridges of the mandible (Figs 1, 2; Osmia laticeps with third tooth forming cutting edge extending from fourth tooth, and with apically converging condylar and outer ridges, Figs 5, 6). Females of Osmia aquilonaria are extremely similar to those of the palearctic Osmia svenssoni , and are not readily differentiated from them other than by their respective geographic distributions.

Osmia svenssoni Osmia steinmanni Osmia aquilonaria gonoforceps Fig. 69; apically evenly tapering, short; preapically with outer margin widened, broader than basally; basally swollen in lateral view; hairs on preapical angle mostly on dorsal surface, relatively sparse Fig. 66; preapically not widened, about as broad as basally; not swollen in ventral or lateral view; hairs on preapical angle mostly on dorsal surface, moderately dense Fig. 26; apically long and slender, preapically not swollen in ventral view; basally swollen in lateral view; hairs on preapical angle mostly on lateral surface, relatively dense S4 Fig. 70; narrower gap between brushes of hairs; brushes of hairs densely setose Fig. 67; wider gap between brushes of hairs; brushes of hairs sparser Figs 24, 25; wider gap between brushes of hairs, brushes of hairs densely setose propodeal triangle entirely granulose lower two-thirds shining Fig. 21; entirely granulose head quadrate in outline round in outline Fig. 20; semi-quadrate in outline hind basitarsal segment, tooth placement (measured along length, from apical margin to basal margin) one-fourth to one-fifth from apical margin one-third from apical margin Fig. 22; one-third to one-fourth from apical margin (shorter and broader than in Osmia svenssoni )

Description.

Female. Figs 1, 2, 13-18. Total length: 8.2-11.0 mm; forewing length: 6.4-6.8 mm; length of lateral ocellus to preoccipital margin 0.7 mm; length of lateral ocellus to compound eye 0.6-0.7 mm.

Color: Dark brown to brown-black, sometimes with reddish overtones especially on mouthparts, labrum, mandible, flagellar segments, legs, and apical margins of T1-T5. Wings mostly clear to weakly infuscate, except strongly infuscate along leading edge of forewing, especially along dorsal half of marginal cell.

Pubescence: Clypeus below apical margin with lateral tuft of golden, medially directed hairs. Dark brown, minutely branched hairs on most of body except as follows: pale golden to white, minutely branched hairs interspersed with brown on interantennal area, vertex, posterior surface of propodeum excluding triangle, and dorsal surfaces of T1, T2, T6; almost entirely pale golden to white, minutely branched hairs on mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, and metanotum; dark-brown, simple hairs interspersed with minutely branched hairs on most of body, except simple hairs lacking on dorsalmesosoma ; dark-brown, simple hairs only (no branched hairs) on all tarsi and scopa; brown, short, simple hairs evenly covering forewing. Galea and basal two labial palpal segments with hairs on lateral margins straight, 0.2-0.5 OD in length. Labrum with long hairs arranged in two curved, transverse rows, along subapical margin and approximately at midpoint, with additional fringe of shorter hairs at apical margin. Clypeus with hairs about as dense as on frons. Hypostomal area with hairs evenly distributed across area, straight to slightly wavy at apical tips, 2.5-4.0 OD in length.

Punctation : Head and mesosoma with punctures nearly contiguous, more or less round, and moderately impressed except as follows: labrum mostly impunctate; clypeus with impunctate midapical truncation about length of F2 or little longer (Fig. 15); mesoscutum immediately posterior to median longitudinal sulcus with punctures separated by up to two puncture diameters; mesepisternum with punctures separated by about half a puncture diameter; hypostomal area, pronotum, and legs with punctures shallowly impressed, sometimes elongated into oval shape; tegula with punctures minute, sparse medially and posteriorly, separated by up to four or five puncture diameters; metepisternum, metanotum, and lateral and posterior surfaces of propodeum with punctures very weakly impressed, with background integument strongly granulose, dull; propodeal triangle with dorsal fourth finely areolate to lineate, lower three fourths strongly granulose, dull (Fig. 16). T1 anterior and dorsal surfaces, and T2-T5 strongly shagreened, dull, with small, sparse punctures throughout except for apical margins, these punctures with integument anterior to them slightly raised, papillate; T1-T5 apical impunctate bands with length at midpoint about 4.0-6.0 puncture diameters or little more (Figs 17, 18).

Structure: Labial palpus four-segmented, second labial palpal segment ca. one-third longer than basal-most segment. Mandible with outer and condylar ridges of subequal thickness, parallel along length to very weakly converging apically (Fig. 1); apical margin with four strongly pointed teeth, third separated from second andfourth by carina, margin of third tooth forming distinct V-shape with adjacent margin of second and slightly smaller V-shape with adjacent margin of fourth, third tooth set back from second and fourth, very slightly directed inwards (Fig. 2); inner, ventral margin of mandible lacking distinct tooth, slightly diverging away from condylar ridge basally; mandible apically widened (1.3 times wider than median width), first tooth slightly longer than other teeth, length between apical tips of second and fourth teeth slightly wider than (ca. 1.2 times) apical tips of first and second teeth (Fig. 2).Clypeus with apical margin linear to moderately emarginate medially, with entire apical truncation laterally more or less contiguous with remaining lateral margin of clypeus (not forming 90 degree angle with lateral apical margin of clypeus; Fig. 15). F1 twice length of F2 or slightly more, remaining apical flagellar segments gradually increasing in length such that F10 subequal to F1 or little longer. Vertex behind lateral ocellus 2.5-3.0 OD in length. Genal width 1.5 to nearly 2.0 times that of compound eye in lateral view. Preoccipital margin rounded, not carinate. Hypostomal carina moderately high, highest at about midpoint of hypostomal area posterior to angle and sometimes forming moderate triangular projection at this point, tapering to low carina or near obsolescence at angle. Malus forming pointed apical spine, this spine more or less a continuation of nearby edge of vellum. Foretarsal segments excluding basitarsal and apical-most segments with anterior lobes slightly longer than posterior. Midtarsal segments with anterior and posterior lobes of equal width, slightly swollen; hind tarsal segments not swollen. Hind tibial spurs strongly curved at apical tips, outer spur about one fifth shorter than inner. Hind basitarsal segment with lateral margins of outer surface parallel.

Male. Figs 19-32. Total length: 9.5 mm (8.2-9.5 mm); forewing length: 6.3 mm (5.9-6.3 mm); length of lateral ocellus to preoccipital margin 0.5 mm (0.4-0.5 mm); length of lateral ocellus to compound eye 0.5 mm.

Color: Black to dark brown, sometimes with reddish overtones especially on mouthparts, labrum, mandible, flagellar segments, legs, and apical margins of T1-T6 and S1-S3. Wings mostly clear except weakly infuscate along leading edge of forewing, especially along dorsal half of marginal cell.

Pubescence: White to golden, minutely branched hairs on body except golden to pale golden, stouter hairs on inner surfaces of tarsi, S4, and S6. Labrum covered with hairs on apical third and with hairs forming short fringe at apical margin. S2 with hairs at apical third relatively long (ca. 3.0 OD). S3 with dense, medially directed hairs filling entire emargination (hairs ca. 1.0 OD in length medially, nearly 2.0 OD laterally) (Fig. 24). S4 midapical truncation with two patches of dense, golden, distally hooked hairs, these patches of hairs medially interrupted by nearly 1.0 OD, with hairs distally meeting at midpoint, each patch along apical margin with hairs oriented horizontally and on premarginal area directed increasingly vertically (Figs 24, 25). S6 midapical truncation sparsely covered with short, distally hooked hairs arising from papillate bases (Fig. 28).

Punctation: Head with punctures ovate to nearly circular, separated by one-fourth to one-half puncture diameter and deeply impressed except as follows: labrum mostly impunctate on basal two-thirds; clypeus with impunctate band along apical margin, about one-third length of F1 in length; disc of clypeus, interantennal area, and paraocular area with punctures small, ovate, and nearly contiguous (punctures mostly obscured beneath dense hairs); hypostomal area anteriorly near angle with punctures weakly, shallowly impressed. Mesosoma with punctures more or less round, nearly contiguous to separated by up to a half puncture diameter, deeply impressed except as follows: mesoscutum immediately posterior to median longitudinal sulcus with punctures separated by up to one, sometimes as much as three puncture diameters; tegula with punctures minute, sparse medially, separated by up to eight to ten puncture diameters; pronotum, metepisternum and lateral and posterior surface of propodeum strongly shagreened, with weakly, shallowly impressed, larger punctures; metanotum and propodeal triangle strongly granulose, dull (Fig. 21); propodeal triangle lineolate on dorsal fifth; legs with inner surfaces of trochanters, femora, and tibiae shining, with scattered smaller punctures. T1 with anterior surface strongly shagreened, dull;metasomal terga with dorsal surfaces excluding apical margins strongly shagreened, apical impunctate margins moderately to weakly shagreened (except T7 moderately polished). T1 dorsal surface with punctures minute, moderately distinct and well-impressed, separated from 1.0 to 3.0 puncture diameters; apical impunctate margin medially ca. 10.0 puncture diameters in length, laterally as little as 6.0 puncture diameters. T2-T7 with punctures minute, T2 with punctures separated by ca. 1.0 puncture diameter medially (sparser towards impunctate apical margin on all terga), successively posterior terga with punctures progressively becoming more widely spaced to about 3.0 puncture diameters apart on disc of T7; T2-T6 with apical impunctate margins 6.0-9.0 puncture diameters in length, T7 with apical impunctate margin 4.0-6.0 puncture diameters in length. S1-S3 with punctures weakly, shallowly impressed. S4 with integument granular, dull (Fig. 24). S5-S6 lacking distinct punctures, weakly shagreened.

Structure: Mandible with outer and condylar ridges converging apically; apical margin with two teeth, upper tooth distinctly shorter and slightly wider than lower, upper tooth with inner and dorsal margins forming ca. 70-80 degree angle; inner, ventral margin of mandible weakly diverging away from condylar ridge basally. Clypeus apical margin with irregular tubercles, lacking distinct apical truncation. Flagellar segments subequal in length, except F1 about three-fourths length of F2 and F11 slightly longer than other segments. Vertex behind lateral ocellus 2.0 OD in length or nearly so. Genal width subequal that of compound eye in lateral view (slightly wider dorsally). Preoccipital margin rounded, not carinate. Hypostomal carina moderately high, gradually tapering to near obsolescence at angle, not forming distinct tooth. Malus forming small but distinct apical spine. Foretarsal segments excluding basitarsal and apical-most segments with lobes slightly, equally swollen. Mid- and hind tarsal segments not swollen. Hind tibial spurs curved at apical fifth, outer spur slightly shorter than inner. Hind basitarsal segment with lateral margins of outer surface weakly diverging apically, with strong tooth on inner margin (Fig. 22). T6 midapically with small but usually distinct emargination, forming ca. one-fourth to one-half of circle in outline (Fig. 23); T6 lateroapical margin smoothly, weakly convex, not forming distinct tooth. T7 midapically strongly emarginate, forming semicircle about as wide as deep (ca. 0.5-0.8 OD wide), with spines on either side of emargination weakly pointed, basally nearly as wide as emargination width (Fig. 23). S2 evenly convex, covering most of S3. S3 with midapical emargination relatively wide and shallow (half entire width of sternum, 1.0 OD in length, measuring only apical margin of sternum and not including basal fringe of hairs; Fig. 24). S4 midapically with wide truncation (about half width of entire sternum), medially with shallow but distinct emargination between lateral tufts of hairs (Fig. 24). S5 with apical margin evenly, strongly concave along median half of margin. S6 with strong midapical truncation, slightly less than one-third width of sternum, truncation slightly wider than deep, apical margin of truncation weakly, evenly rounded apically, sometimes with small emargination medially (Fig. 28). S8 as in Fig. 29. Gonoforceps weakly narrowed apical to subapical bend in dorsal, ventral, and lateral views (Figs 26, 27, 30-32).

Distribution.

Alaska and Northwest Territories south to Wyoming, and east across Canada to Nova Scotia.

Holotype male.

"[Canada] N.W.T. [Northwest Territories] km 491, Dempster Hwy, 26.VI.80 [ 26 June 1980 ], 1000 m, Wood & Lafontaine// Osmia svenssoni Tkalcu ♂ T Griswold det 96// Holotype male Osmia aquilonaria Rightmyer, Griswold, & Arduser" (Ottawa)

Paratypes.

CANADA: NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, Inuvik Region, Aklavik, 25 June 1931 , O. Bryant (1♀, Logan), 25 July 1931 , 1600 ft (1♀, San Francisco); Black Mountain, SW of Aklavik, 1 August 1931 , O. Bryant (1♀, 1♂, Logan); Holman, Victoria Island, 25 June 1952 , B. A. Gibbard (1♀, Ottawa); NOVA SCOTIA, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, 60˚50'W 46˚47'N, 22 June 1983 , Birch (1♀, Ottawa); NUNAVUT, Kitikmeot Region, Coppermine, 3 August 1951 , S. D. Hicks (1♀, Ottawa); ONTARIO, Cochrane District, Low Bush, Lake Abitibi, 5 June 1925 , N. K. Bigelow (1♀, St. Charles), 18 June 1925 , N. K. Bigelow (1♀, St. Charles); Thunder Bay District, Silver Island, Sibley Peninsula, 18 July 1961 , Rubus sp., H. E. Milliron (1♀, Ottawa); QUEBEC, Nord-du-Québec Region,Highway to James Bay km 66, 50˚03'N 77˚07'W, 12 June– 8 August 1987 , Malaise-FIT Salix bushes, L. Leblanc (1♀, Ottawa); YUKON, Dempster Highway km 465, 23-25 June 1980 , 800 m, Wood & Lafontaine (2♀, Ottawa); USA: ALASKA, North Slope Borough, Cape Thompson, 29 June 1961 , B. S. Heming (1♀, Ottawa); Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Kathul Mountain, Yukon River, Steppe, 4 June 1991 , Arnica alpina , J. A. Bishop (1♀, Davis), 5 June 1991 , Lupinus arcticus (1♀, Davis); Kathul Mountain, Yukon River, 110 km NW Eagle, Tundra, 16 June 1992 , Lupinus arcticus , J. A. Bishop (1♀, Davis); WYOMING, Fremont Co., Roaring Fork Mountain, Wind River Range, 29 June 1990 , 11000-1200 ft, E. A. Sugden (6♀, 3♂, Logan).

Etymology.

The name “aquilonaria” is Latin, meaning northern or northerly, and is in reference to the northern distribution of the species in North America.

Anthophora (Osmia) inermis Zetterstedt 1838: 466 [Lectotype male: Lund]; Tkalců 1983: 153 [Lectotype designation].

Osmia globosa Cresson 1864: 36 [Holotype female: Philadelphia]; Sandhouse 1939: 34 [synonymy]; Ungricht et al. 2008: 166 [preoccupied name, not Apis globosa Scopoli 1763 ].

Osmia vulpecula Gerstäcker 1869: 335 [Lectotype female: Berlin]; Thomson 1872: 244 [synonymy]; Tkalců 1983: 153 [Lectotype designation]

Osmia globosiformis Cockerell 1910: 311 [Holotype male: San Francisco]; Sandhouse 1939: 34 [synonymy].

Osmia (Melanosmia) inermis (Zetterstedt); Friese 1911: 122 ; Sandhouse 1939: 34 -35 [redescription of male and female].

Osmia (Chenosmia) inermis (Zetterstedt); Sinha 1958: 235 .

Diagnosis.

Females are known by the slightly acute angle or tooth midway on the ventral margin of the mandible (Fig. 52). Males can be distinguished by the form of the S4, which is strongly truncate and emarginate medially, forming distinct, rounded sublateral lobes (Fig. 60).

Distribution.

In the Nearctic, from Sierra Nevada of California north to British Columbia and Alaska, east through Canada to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland south in the United States to Massachusetts, Michigan, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and mountainous areas of Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. In the Palearctic, Osmia inermis is found from Spain, Italy, and Greece north to the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden,and Finland, and east through Russia and northern China ( Müller , 2010). The related, if not synonymous, species Osmia ishikawai is found in Japan.

Comments.

Osmia inermis has been recorded nesting under stone or in preexisting cavities in rocks and stones, with cells composed of chewed leaves ( Lovell 1909 ; Müller 2010 and references therein). In the Palearctic, Osmia inermis is polylectic with a preference for Fabaceae ( Müller 2010 and references therein); however, in Newfoundland, Canada, the species has been shown to be primarily dependent upon Ericaceae ( Hicks 2009 ).

Material examined.

23 April (1♂, Boulder), 30 July 1955 (1♀, Ottawa); CANADA: ALBERTA, Alberta’s Rockies Region, 21 May 1915 (3♂, Ottawa, 1♂, Logan), 25 May 1892 (1♀, New York), 29 May 1922 (1♂, Ottawa), 6 July 1955 (1♀, Ottawa); Northern Alberta Region, 29 May 1977 (1♀, Logan); BRITISH COLUMBIA, Central Kootenay, 3 June 1906 (1♀, Ottawa), 9 June (1♀, Boulder); Stikine Region, 6 June 1955 , 2200 ft (1♂, Ottawa), 17 June 1955 , 2200 ft (1♀, Ottawa); Okanagan-Similkameen District, 21 May 1958 (1♂, Ottawa); MANITOBA, Northern Region, 1 July 1927 (1♀, Ottawa), 11 July 1950 (1♀, Ottawa), 29 July 1949 (1♀, Ottawa); Parkland Region, 26 June 1961 , 2000 ft (1♀, Ottawa); NEW BRUNSWICK, St. John Co., 9 June 1901 (1♀, Logan), 23 June 1901 (1♀, Ottawa); York Co., 29 May 1918 (1♂, Ottawa); NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, Twillingate Islands, 30 May 1951 (13♀, Ottawa); NOVA SCOTIA, Halifax Co., 2 July 1914 (1♀, Ottawa); Hants Co., 4 June 1931 , Cornus sp. (1♂, Ottawa), 22 June 1931 (1♀, Ottawa); ONTARIO, Kawartha Lakes, 25 May 1964 , Viola adunca (1♂, Ottawa); Lennox and Addington Co., 12 May 1962 , Chamaedaphne sp. (1♀, Toronto); Rainy River District, 2 July 1960 (1♀, Ottawa); QUEBEC, Capitale-Nationale Region, 17 May 1914 (2♀, Ottawa), 28 May 1916 , Vaccinium sp. (2♀, Ottawa); Nord-du-Québec Region, 4-12 June 1987 (1♀, Ottawa), 12 June– 8 July 1987 (1♀, Ottawa), 18 June 1949 (1♂, Ottawa), 14 August 1949 (1♀, Ottawa), 18 August 1949 (4♀, Ottawa), 23 August 1949 (2♀, Ottawa), 2 September 1949 (8♀, Ottawa), 3 September 1949 (1♀, Ottawa); Outaouais Region, 14 May 1916 , Vaccinium sp. (1♀, 1♂, Ottawa); YUKON, 26 May 1951 (1♂, Ottawa), 31 May 1951 (2♂, Ottawa), 5 June 1951 (1♂, Ottawa), 12 June 1960 , 3500 ft (1♀, Ottawa), 21 June 1949 , 5200 ft (1♀, Ottawa), 2 July 1962 , 3500 ft (1♀, Ottawa), 10 July 1985 (1♀, Victoria); RUSSIA, Siberia, 3 July 1992 (1♀, Davis), 5 July 1992 (1♀, Davis); SWEDEN: (1♀, Uppsala), 12-19 June 1972 (1 ♀, Uppsala), Jönköping Co., 12 July 1932 (1♀, Logan); Norrbotten Co., (1♂, Uppsala), 25 August 1975 (1♂, Uppsala); USA: ALASKA, Fairbanks North Star Borough, 19 May 1987 (1♀, Davis); Kenai Peninsula, 20 June 1951 (1♀, Ottawa); CALIFORNIA, Madera Co., 19 July 2004 , 3315 m, Phyllodoce breweri (1♂, Logan); Mariposa Co., 15 June 2004 , 3024 m (3♂, Logan), Phyllodoce breweri (1♂, Logan), 3215 m (1♂, Logan), 23 June 2004 , 3112 m (1♂, Logan), 4 July 2004 , 2860 m (1♀, Logan), 2847 m, Horkelia tridentata (1♀, Logan), 14 July 2005 , 3112 m, (2♂, Logan), Phyllodoce breweri (1♂, Logan), 16 July 2004 , 2944 m, Phyllodoce breweri (1♀, Logan), 14 August 2004 , 3189 m, (1♀, Logan), 1 August 2005 ,3189 m, (1♂, Logan); Shasta Co., 30 July 1947 , 7000 ft (1♀, Logan), Tuolumne Co., 14 July 2004 , 3049 m (1♀, Logan), 3114 m (1♂, Logan), Phyllodoce breweri (2♀, Logan), 15 July 2004 , 3215 m, (3♂, Logan), Phyllodoce breweri (1♀, Logan), 17 July 2005 , 3215 m (2♂, Logan), 28 July 2006 , 3215 m, Arenaria kingii var. glabrescens (1♀, Logan), Eriogonum incanum (1♀, Logan), Phyllodoce breweri (1♀, Logan); COLORADO, Boulder Co., 18 June 1940 (1♀, Boulder), 20 June 1940 (1♀, Boulder), 27 June 1939 (1♀, Boulder), 8 July 1940 (1♀, Boulder); GrandCo ., 22 June 1976 (1♀, Boulder); Larimer Co., 19 June (1♀, Boulder), 25 July (1♀, Boulder); Mesa Co., 10 July 1938 (1♀, Boulder); Routt Co., 21 May 1964 , 8500 ft, Erythronuim sp. (1♂, Boulder); Summit Co., 29 July 1961 , 11700 (1♂, Ottawa); IDAHO, Bear Lake Co., 10 August 1972 (1♀, Logan); Lemhi Co., 20 July 1963 (2♀, Moscow); MAINE, Knox Co., 28 May 1962 , Vaccinium angustifolium (1♂, St. Charles); MASSACHUSETTS, Barnstable Co., 16 May 1914 (1♂, Logan); MICHIGAN, Alger Co., 23 May 1982 , Vaccinium sp. (1♂, St. Charles), 29 May 1991 , Vaccinium angustifolium (2♀, St. Charles); Marquette Co., 25 May 1983 , Vaccinium angustifolium (1♂, St. Charles), 9 June 1985 , Gaylussacia sp. (1♀, St. Charles), 21 June 1984 (1♀, St. Charles); MONTANA, Carbon Co., 10 July 1963 , 5900 ft, Melilotus sp. (6♀, Boulder), 12 July 1963 , 5900 ft, Melilotus sp. (1♀, Boulder), 28 July 1975 (1♀, Boulder); Gallatin Co., 1 May 1927 (1♀, Logan), 24 June 2008 (1♂, Logan); NEVADA, Elko Co., 9 July 1979 (1♂, Logan), 19 July 1975 , 9500 ft (1♂, Logan-TG), 21 July 1976 , 9600 ft (2♂, Logan-TG); OREGON, Baker Co., 15 July 1930 , 7100 ft (1♀, Corvallis); Wallowa Co., 26 July 1929 , 7500 ft (1♀, Corvallis); SOUTH DAKOTA, Custer Co., 20 June 1955 , Trifolium repens (1♀, St. Charles); UTAH, Cache Co., 7 June 1962 , (1♀, Logan), 18 June 1948 , Wyethia sp (2♂, Logan), 30 June 1976 , Penstemon leonardi (1♀, Logan), 4 July 1947 , Ranunculus acriformis var. montanensis (1♀, 1♂, Logan), 5 July 1981 , 8500 ft (1♀, Logan-TG), 17 July 1995 , 8200-8600 ft, Penstemon sp. (2♀, Logan), 25 July 1971 (1♂, Logan), 28 July 1975 , Penstemon cyananthus (1♀, Logan); 1 August 1965 (1♀, Logan), 4 August 1975 , Potentilla fruticosa (1♀, Logan); Grand Co., 8 June 1963 (1♂, Logan); Sanpete Co., 25 June 1990 , 10760 ft, Astragalus montii (1♂, Logan); Weber Co., 13 July 1950 (1♂, Logan); WASHINGTON, King Co. (1♀, 4♂, Boulder); WYOMING, Big Horn Co., 6 August 2000 , 8975 ft, Machaeranthera sp. (1♀, Boulder); Carbon Co., 31 May 1972 (1♂, Boulder); Fremont Co., 10 June 1955 (1♀, Logan), 29 June 1990 , 11000-12000 ft (2♂, Logan); Johnson Co., 22 July 1998 (1♀, Logan); Sheridan Co., 26 June 1986 (1♀, Ottawa); Sublette Co., 20 July 1959 (2♀, Logan); Teton Co., July 1937 (1♀, Logan), 4 July 1983 , 6700 ft, Hedysarum boreale (1♀, Logan), 13 July 1983 , 6700 ft, Hedysarum boreale (1♀, Logan); 17 July 1983 , 6700 ft, Hedysarum boreale (1♀, Logan).

Diagnosis.

Osmia nearctica is one of two members of the xanthomelana species group in North America; characters to distinguish it from the other member of that group, Osmia maritima , are given under that species (see above).

In the Palearctic, Osmia nearctica is most similar to Osmia xanthomelana , but can be differentiated from that species by the following characters: In females, the propodeal triangle is shining but weakly shagreened throughout (Fig. 36) ( Osmia xanthomelana with entirely polished, strongly shining lower half of the propodeal triangle), the outer hind tibial spur is only about half the length of the hind basitarsal segment ( Osmia xanthomelana with outer hind tibial spur nearly three-fourths length of hind basitarsal segment), and the lower margin of the mandible has a distinct, translucent flange that curves away from the condylar ridge ( Osmia xanthomelana with the lower margin of the mandible opaque, forming a ridge that is parallel to the condylar ridge). The hairs of the mesepisternum tend to be dark brown in Osmia nearctica , while in Osmia xanthomelana the hairs tend to be pale yellow to white, and the hairs of the hypostomal area tend to be denser in Osmia nearctica than in Osmia xanthomelana .

In males, the propodeal triangle is weakly shagreened throughout in Osmia nearctica (Fig. 41) ( Osmia xanthomelana with entirely polished, strongly shining lower half of the propodeal triangle); the lower tooth of the mandible is only slightly longer than the upper tooth in Osmia nearctica (in Osmia xanthomelana the lower tooth of the mandible is much longer than the upper tooth and the entire apical margin of the mandible is conspicuously wider than the middle, approaching the look of male Acanthosmioides ); T7 midapically has a shallower emargination in Osmia nearctica (Fig. 43) than in Osmia xanthomelana ; the S6 midapical truncation is clearly emarginate in Osmia nearctica (Fig. 47) ( Osmia xanthomelana with S6 truncation not emarginate); and the apical tip of the gonoforceps (apical to subapical swelling) is more rounded in Osmia nearctica (Figs 49, 50) (in Osmia xanthomelana the apical tip is more pointed). Osmia nearctica can be differentiated from Osmia maritima and Osmia alticola by the microscopic hairs on the underside of theflagellar segments ( Osmia maritima and Osmia alticola with conspicuous hairs about half the width of the flagellar segments).

Description.

Female. Figs 9, 10, 33-38. Total length: 9.0-11.5 mm; forewing length: 6.5-7.2 mm; length of lateral ocellus to preoccipital margin 0.6 mm; length of lateral ocellus to compound eye 0.7 mm.

Color: Dark brown to brown-black, sometimes with reddish overtones especially on mouthparts, labrum, mandible, flagellar segments, legs, and apical margins ofT 1-T5. Wings moderately infuscate, more strongly infuscate in marginal cell and distal to cells.

Pubescence: Clypeus below apical margin with lateral tuft of golden, medioposteriorly directed hairs. Brown, minutely branched hairs on most of body except as follows: white to yellow, minutely branched hairs interspersed with brown on outer surface of mandible, face excluding ventral third of clypeus and sometimes on vertex (and gena), and dorsal surfaces of T2, T5, T6; almost entirely white to yellow, minutely branched hairs on vertex (sometimes), mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, metanotum, dorsally on propodeum (excluding triangle), pronotal lobe, and dorsal surface of T1; brown, simple hairs interspersed with minutely branched hairs on most of body, except simple hairs lacking on dorsal mesosoma; simple hairs only (no branched hairs), golden on all tarsi and brown on scopa; brown, short, simple hairs evenly covering forewing. Galea and basal two labial palpal segments with hairs on lateral margins straight, 0.2-0.5 OD in length. Labrum with long hairs arranged in two curved, transverse rows, along subapical margin and approximately at midpoint, with additional fringe of shorter hairs at apical margin. Clypeus with hairs about as dense as on frons. Hypostomal area with hairs densely distributed across area, straight to weakly incurved at apical tips, 3.0-4.0 OD in length.

Punctation: Head and mesosoma with punctures nearly contiguous, more or less round, and moderately impressed except as follows: labrum mostly impunctate except near fringes of hairs; clypeus with impunctate midapical truncation about length of F2 or little longer (Fig. 35); mesoscutum posterior to median longitudinal sulcus with punctures separated by up to a puncture diameter; mesepisternum with punctures less strongly impressed, nearly contiguous to separated by about half a puncture diameter; hypostomal area near angle and legs with punctures shallowly impressed, sometimes elongated into oval shape; tegula with punctures minute, sparser medially and posteriorly, separated by up to three or four puncture diameters; pronotum, metepisternum, metanotum, and lateral and posterior surfaces of propodeum with punctures very weakly impressed, with background integument weakly shagreened; propodeal triangle with dorsal fourth reticulate, lower three fourths shagreened, weakly shining (Fig. 36). T1 anterior surface weakly shagreened, shining, with scattered punctures at dorsolateral angle; T1-T3 dorsal surfaces very weakly shagreened, shining, excluding apical impunctate margins with small punctures nearly contiguous to separated by 1.0 puncture diameter (on T1, Fig. 37) to separated between 1.0 to 3.0 puncture diameters (on T3); apical impunctate bands 2.0-4.0 puncture diameters in length. T4-T5 dorsal surfaces shagreened, weakly shining, excluding apical impunctate bands with punctures nearly contiguous to separated by 2.0 puncture diameters; apical impunctate bands about 5.0-8.0 puncture diameters in length. T6 with punctures minute, nearly contiguous, mostly obscured beneath dense hairs.

Structure: Labial palpus four-segmented, second labial palpal segment subequal to or ca. one-fourth longer than basal-most segment. Mandible with outer and condylar ridges of subequal thickness, parallel along length (Fig. 9); apical margin with four well-developed teeth, lacking carina separating third tooth from second and fourth,margin of third tooth forming distinct V-shape with adjacent margin of second and slightly smaller V-shape with adjacent margin of fourth, third tooth more or less on same plane as second and fourth (Fig 10); inner, ventral margin of mandible lacking distinct tooth, diverging away from condylar ridge basally; mandible apically widened (ca. 1.7 times wider than median width), first tooth longer than other teeth, length between apical tips of second and fourth teeth subequal to slightly wider than apical tips of first and second teeth (Fig. 10). Clypeus apical margin with distinct truncation on middle half, this truncation with lateral corner slightly produced, forming weak protuberance relative to apical margin of truncation and forming ca. 90 degree angle with apical margin of clypeus lateral to truncation (Fig. 35). F1 twice length of F2, remaining apical flagellar segments gradually increasing in length such that F10 subequal to F1 or little longer. Vertex behind lateral ocellus 2.0-2.5 OD in length. Genal width 1.5 to nearly 2.0 times that of compound eye in lateral view. Preoccipital margin rounded, not carinate. Hypostomal carina moderately high, highest at about midpoint of hypostomal area posterior to angle and forming distinct triangular projection at this point, tapering to low carina or near obsolescence at angle. Malus forming pointed apical spine. Foretarsal and midtarsal segments excluding basitarsal and apical-most segments with anterior lobes slightly longer than posterior; hind tarsal segments not swollen. Hind tibial spurs weakly curved, outer spur about a fifth shorter than inner. Hind basitarsal segment with lateral margins of outer surface parallel.

Male. Figs 39-51. Total length: 8.6 mm (8.0-9.1 mm); forewing length: 6.0 mm (6.0-6.5 mm); length of lateral ocellus to preoccipital margin 0.5; length of lateral ocellus to compound eye 0.6 mm.

Color: Black to dark brown, sometimes with reddish overtones especially on mouthparts, labrum, mandible, flagellar segments, legs, and apical margins of T1-T6 and S1-S3. Wings mostly clear except weakly infuscate along leading edge of forewing, especially along dorsal half of marginal cell.

Pubescence: White to pale golden, minutely branched hairs on body except golden to pale golden, stouter, simple hairs on inner surfaces of tarsi, S4, and S6, and intermixed with white, branched hairs on mandible, lower gena, and outer surfaces of tarsi. Labrum with row of hairs across approximate midline, sparsely covered with hairs on apical fourth and with hairs forming short fringe at apical margin. S2 with hairs at apical third ca. 1.5 to 2.0 OD in length. S3 with medially directed hairs filling entire emargination (hairs ca. 1.0 OD in length medially, 2.0 OD laterally) (Fig. 44). S4 with weakly defined, asetose longitudinal strip, otherwise covered with regularly spaced, simple, short, weakly distally hooked, golden hairs arising from papillate bases (Fig. 44). S6 midapical truncation with very sparse, short, simple hairs arising from papillate bases (Fig. 47).

Punctation: Head with punctures ovate to nearly circular, separated by one-fourth to one-half puncture diameter (up to 1.0 puncture diameter posterior to compound eye) and deeply impressed except as follows: labrum mostly impunctate on basal two-thirds; clypeus with impunctate band along apical margin, about one-fourth length of F1; disc of clypeus, interantennal area, and paraocular area with punctures small, ovate,and nearly contiguous (punctures mostly obscured beneath dense hairs); hypostomal area anteriorly near angle with punctures weakly, shallowly impressed. Mesosoma with punctures more or less round, nearly contiguous to separated by up to a half puncture diameter, deeply impressed except as follows: mesoscutum immediately posterior to median longitudinal sulcus with punctures separated by up to one, sometimes as much as two puncture diameters; tegula with punctures minute, sparse medially, separated by up to five puncture diameters; pronotum, dorsal half of metepisternum and lateral and posterior surface of propodeum weakly shagreened, with moderately impressed, larger punctures; ventral half of metepisternum mostly impunctate, weakly shining; propodeal triangle lineolate to reticulate on dorsal third, shagreened and weakly shining on ventral two-thirds; legs with inner surfaces of femora and tibiae shining, with scattered smaller punctures. T1 with anterior surface very weakly shagreened, shining; T1-T2 with dorsal surfaces excluding apical margins weakly shagreened, shining; T3, T6-T7 dorsal surfaces moderately shagreened; T4-T5 dorsal surfaces strongly shagreened, dull; metasomal terga with apical impunctate margins polished. T1 dorsal surface with punctures minute, distinct and well-impressed, nearly contiguous to separated by a puncture diameter; apical impunctate margin ca. 4.0-5.0 puncture diameters in length (sometimes medially as long as 6.0-7.0 puncture diameters in length). T2-T7 with punctures minute, T2 with punctures separated by ca. 1.0 puncture diameter medially, successively posterior terga with punctures progressively becoming more widely spaced to about 3.0 puncture diameters apart on disc of T6; T2-T6 with apical impunctate margins 4.0-8.0 puncture diameters in length, T7 lacking apical impunctate margin. S1-3 with punctures minute, well-impressed, nearly contiguous to separated by ca. 1.0 puncture diameter. S4-S6 lacking distinct punctures, weakly shagreened.

Structure: Mandible with outer and condylar ridges converging apically; apical margin with two teeth, upper tooth distinctly shorter and wider than lower; inner, ventral margin of mandible very weakly diverging away from condylar ridge basally. Clypeus apical margin mostly linear except with weak irregular tubercles above tufts of setae below apical margin at each side. Flagellar segments subequal in length, except F1 slightly shorter than F2 and F11 slightly longer than F10. Vertex behind lateral ocellus 1.5-2.0 OD in length. Genal width in lateral view ventrally subequal to, dorsally ca. 1.3 times wider than, width of compound eye. Preoccipital margin rounded, not carinate. Hypostomal carina relatively short, gradually tapering to near obsolescence at angle, not forming distinct tooth. Malus forming distinct apical spine. Foretarsal segments excluding basitarsal and apical-most segments with anterior lobes slightly more swollen than posterior. Mid- and hind tarsal segments not swollen. Midfemur with swollen projection on ventral surface. Hind tibial spurs weakly curved at apical sixth, outer spur ca. one-fifth shorter than inner. Hind basitarsal segment widening about a third from apical margin, with strong tooth on inner margin at widest point (Fig. 42). T6 midapically with wide, shallow emargination, forming ca. one-fourth of circle in outline (Fig. 43); T6 lateroapical margin slightly concave sublaterally, forming weak lobe. T7 midapically strongly emarginate, forming semicircle about as wide as, or slightly wider than, deep (ca. 1.5 OD wide; Fig. 43), with spineson either side of emargination rounded, basally nearly as wide as emargination width. S2 strongly convex, covering most of S3. S3 with midapical emargination one-third entire width of sternum and nearly as long as wide (Fig. 44). S4 with apical margin evenly convex, with very weakly defined midapical truncation (Fig. 44). S5 with apical margin evenly, weakly concave along median half of margin. S6 with midapical truncation one-fifth width of sternum, truncation slightly wider than deep, apical margin of truncation very weakly emarginate midapically (Fig. 47; S6 sometimes folded along longitudinal length, thus increasing appearance of midapical emargination); S6 with lateral edge strongly folded, bulbous in appearance in ventral view. Gonoforceps strongly swollen subapically, apical to swelling with flattened, narrowed process (Figs 45, 46, 49-51).

Distribution.

Canada from Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut southeast to Ontario and Quebec.

Holotype male.

"[Canada] Norman Wells, N.W.T. [Northwest Territories], 13-VII-1949 , W.R.M. Mason// Holotype male Osmia nearctica Rightmyer, Griswold, & Arduser" (Ottawa)

Paratypes.

CANADA: MANITOBA, Winnipeg Capitol Region, Kettle Rapid, nearWinnipeg, 14 July 1917 (1♀, New York); NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, Dehcho Region, Hay River, 5 June 1951 , P. R. Ehrlich (2♀, Ottawa); Inuvik Region, Reindeer Depot, MacKenzie Delta, 23 June 1948 , W. J. Brown (1♀, Ottawa), 16 July 1948 , J. R. Vockeroth (1♀, Ottawa); Sahtu Region, Norman Wells, 19 May 1953 , C. D. Bird (1♀, Ottawa), 27 May 1953 , C. D. Bird (1♀, Ottawa), 12 June 1949 , W.R.M. Mason (2♀, Ottawa), 3 July 1949 , W.R.M. Mason (1♀, Ottawa), 4 July 1949 , W.R.M. Mason (1♀, Ottawa); NUNAVUT, Kitikmeot Region, Coppermine, 3 August 1951 , S. D. Hicks (1♀, Ottawa); ONTARIO, Thunder Bay District, Black Sturgeon Lake, 13 June 1961 (1♂, Ottawa); QUEBEC, Nord-du-Québec Region, Rupert River, 10 July 1956 , J. R. Lonsway (1♂, Ottawa); YUKON, Dempster Highway km 465, 15 July 1982 , D. Wood (1♀, Ottawa).

Etymology.

The name “nearctica” is derived from the Greek arktikous, meaning northern or arctic, and is in reference to the known distribution of this species in northern regions of the New World (i.e., Canada).

Osmia maritima Friese 1885: 85 [Lectotype female: Berlin]; Tkalců 1983: 152 [lectotype designation].

Diagnosis.

Osmia maritima is one of two currently known species of the xanthomelana species group in North America (species with more or less shining ventral area of the propodeal triangle, apically widened mandible in females, and distinctly swollen gonoforceps in males). Females of Osmia maritima are distinguished from the other North American xanthomelana species group member, Osmia nearctica , by characteristics of the mandible, outer hind tibial spur, and clypeus: the mandible has a third tooth that is recessed below a distinct carina between the second and fourth teeth (Fig. 8) ( Osmia nearctica with the third tooth in the same plane as the second and fourth teeth and no carina, Fig. 10); the outer hind tibial spur is strongly curved apically ( Osmia nearctica with outer hind tibial spur weakly curved apically), and the apical truncation of the clypeus is not distinctly set apart from the lateral apical margin of the clypeus, Fig. 55 ( Osmia nearctica with the apical truncation forming a 90 degree angle with the lateral apical margin of the clypeus, Fig. 35). Females of Osmia maritima also have almost entirely black pubescence on the clypeus (significant amounts of light hairs throughout the clypeus in Osmia nearctica ) and longer hair on the galea in dorsal view.

Males of Osmia maritima are distinguished from Osmia nearctica by their relatively long, sparse hairs on the lower surface of the flagellar segments ( Osmia nearctica with these hairs microscopic) and weakly emarginate S2 ( Osmia nearctica with S2 midapical margin not emarginate).

Distribution.

In the Nearctic, Osmia maritima is known only from the Northwest Territories and Alaska. In the Palearctic, Osmia maritima is known from the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland east to Mongolia and through Russia to Far Eastern Siberia ( Müller 2010 ).

Comments.

We have not found any male specimens of Osmia maritima in the material of nearctic Osmia available to us. It is possible that once male specimens are discovered they may prove to be a distinct species from their palearctic relatives (if, as in Osmia aquilonaria , the novel diagnostic characters of the species are only found in the males);however , since a holarctic distribution is well established for other Osmia species (e.g., Osmia inermis and Osmia nigriventris ), until proven otherwise we conservatively retain the name Osmia maritima for this species. Interestingly, there appear to be two female morphs of Osmia maritima . Specimens from Alaska and the Russian Far East share pale hair on the paraocular area and mesepisternum and scarcely sculptured apical areas on T2 and T3; females from the Northwest Territories and western Europe have dark hair on the paraocular area and mesepisternum and microsculptured apical areas of T2 and T3.

Osmia maritima from the Palearctic is known to be polylectic and nests in sandy soil with cells composed of chewed leaves and sand grains ( Müller 2010 and references therein).

Material examined.

CANADA: NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, Inuvik Region, 17 June 1971 (1♀, Ottawa), 20-25 June 1971 (3♀, Ottawa), 28-30 June 1971 (1♀, Ottawa), 11 July 1948 (1♀, Ottawa); NETHERLANDS: Terschelling, 2 June 1969 (1♂, 1♀, Logan); RUSSIA: Siberia, 5 July 1992 (1♂, Davis), 12 July 1992 (1♀, Davis); USA: ALASKA, Fairbanks North Star Borough, 31 July 1985 (1♀, Davis); Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, 21 June 1984 , Oxytropis campestris (3♀, Davis); Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, 17 May 1991 , Dodecatheon frigidum (1♀, Davis), 19 June 1992 , Penstemon gormanii (1♀, Davis).

Osmia laticeps Thomson 1872: 242 [Lectotype female: Lund]; Dalla Torre 1896: 414 [synonymy with Osmia uncinata Gerstäcker ]; Tkalců 1983: 154 [Lectotype designation]; Nilsson 2009: 51 [rejection of synonymy with Osmia uncinata Gerstäcker ].

Osmia (Melanosmia) hyperborea Tkalců 1983: 156 [Holotype male: Uppsala]; Schwarz et al. 1996: 126 [synonymy with Osmia parietina Curtis]; Haeseler 1999: 454 [rejection of synonymy with Osmia parietina Curtis, diagnosis of female]; Nilsson 2009: 52 [synonymy with Osmia laticeps Thomson].

Diagnosis.

Females of Osmia laticeps are distinguished from all other North American non-metallic Osmia by the following characters of the mandible (Figs 5, 6): the apical margin is only slightly broader than the median width, the third tooth is relatively broad and not strongly separated from the fourth tooth, and the condylar and outer ridges converge apically; in addition, they are diagnosed by their strongly granulose propodeal triangle and relatively short apical impunctate bands on T2 and T3.

In the Palearctic, Osmia laticeps is most similar to Osmia uncinata . In addition to the characters mentioned in the key (above), the following characters can be used to distinguish females of the two species (most characters first noticed by Haeseler 1999 ): in Osmia laticeps , the clypeus has more plentiful pale hairs than black hairs, and these pale hairs are about the same length as the black hairs. In Osmia uncinata , the clypeus has nearly the same amount of black hairs as pale hairs, and the black hairs are distinctly longer than the pale hairs. The malus of the foretibia has the apical tip evenly tapering to a point in Osmia laticeps , while in Osmia uncinata the tip is slightly more blunt. The outer hind tibial spur is more strongly downcurved in Osmia uncinata than in Osmia laticeps . Additionally, the hairs of the hypostomal area are denser and more strongly incurved in Osmia laticeps than in Osmia uncinata .

In both the Nearctic and Palearctic, males are known by the non-swollen gonoforceps (outer margin preapically only weakly widened, about the same width as the gonoforceps basal and distal to this preapical point of inflection), and the relatively unmodified S4 (Fig. 61): the apical margin of S4 is evenly convex and midapically on S4 the relatively short, unmodified hairs arise from regularly-spaced tubercles (not forming distinct, sublateral tufts of apically hooked hairs).

Description.

Female. Figs 5, 6, 54, 58. Total length: 8.4-9.0 mm; forewing length: 6.0-8.1 mm; length of lateral ocellus to preoccipital margin 0.6-0.7 mm; length of lateral ocellus to compound eye 0.6-0.7 mm.

Color: Dark brown to brown-black, sometimes with reddish overtones especially on mouthparts, labrum, mandible, flagellar segments, legs, and apical margins of T1-T5. Wings mostly clear to weakly infuscate, except moderately infuscate along dorsal half of marginal cell.

Pubescence: Clypeus below apical margin with lateral tuft of golden, medially directed hairs. White to golden, minutely branched hairs on most of body except as follows: brown, simple hairs interspersed with pale, branched hairs on clypeus, sometimes interantennal area and near ocelli, gena ventrally and along compound eye, outer surfaces of femora and tibiae (especially on fore and midlegs); dark-brown, simple hairs only (no branched hairs) on mouthparts, labrum, inner surfaces of legs (golden on tarsi), outer surfaces of hind tibia and all tarsi, T2-T6, and scopa; brown, short, simple hairs evenly covering forewing. Galea and basal two labial palpal segments with hairs on lateral margins straight, 0.2-0.3 OD in length. Labrum with long hairs arranged in two curved, transverse rows, along subapical margin and approximately at midpoint, with additional fringe of minute hairs at apical margin. Clypeus with hairs about as dense as on frons, midapically with some hairs slightly curved at apical tips. Hypostomal area with straight hairs evenly distributed across most of area, 2.0-3.0 OD in length.

Punctation: Head and mesosoma with punctures nearly contiguous, more or less round, and moderately impressed except as follows: labrum mostly impunctate except near fringes of hairs; clypeus with impunctate midapical truncation about length of F2 or little longer (Fig. 54); mesoscutum immediately posterior to median longitudinal sulcus with punctures separated by up to a puncture diameter; mesepisternum with punctures separated by about half a puncture diameter; metepisternum with punctures less distinct, separated by up to a puncture diameter; hypostomal area anteriorly near angle, posterior half of gena, and legs with punctures shallowly impressed, sometimes elongated into oval shape; tegula with punctures minute, sparse medially and posteriorly, separated by up to four puncture diameters (up to six puncture diameters in some specimens);pronotum , metanotum, and lateral and posterior surfaces of propodeum with punctures less distinctly impressed and background integument weakly shagreened; propodeal triangle with dorsal fourth reticulate to lineate, lower three fourths strongly shagreened, dull. T1 anterior surface moderately shagreened, weakly shining, with scattered, sparse, minute punctures throughout; T1-T3 dorsal surfaces weakly shagreened, shining, with small punctures nearly contiguous to separated by 2.0 puncture diameters on basal three-fourths, minute and much more sparsely spaced on apical fourth (4.0-6.0 puncture diameters apart), apical margins with narrow region entirely impunctate (T1 with apical impunctate margin polished, ca. 5.0-6.0, Fig. 58; weakly shagreened, ca. 2.0-5.0 puncture diameters on T2-T3); T4-T5 much more strongly shagreened throughout, with small punctures nearly contiguous to separated by 3.0 puncture diameters on basal three-fourths, minute punctures separated by 2.0-6.0 puncture diameters on apical fourth, with apical impunctate bands ca. 3.0-4.0 puncture diameters in length.

Structure: Labial palpus four-segmented, second labial palpal segment ca. one-fourth longer than basal most segment. Mandible with condylar ridge about twice thickness of outer ridge, strongly converging apically (Fig. 5); apical margin with four distinct teeth, third separated from second and fourth by carina, margin of third tooth forming distinct V-shape with adjacent margin of second and forming weak concavity with margin of fourth, third tooth set back from second and fourth, very slightly directed inwards (Fig. 6); inner, ventral margin of mandible lacking distinct tooth, strongly diverging away from condylar ridge basally; mandible apically only slightly wider than narrowest point medially, first tooth subequal to, or very slightly longer than, second tooth, length between apical tips of second and fourth teeth 1.7 to nearly twice wider than apical tips of first and second teeth (Fig. 6). Clypeus with median truncation at apical margin linear to weakly concave, with truncation laterally weakly set off from remaining lateral margin of clypeus. F1 twice length of F2 or slightly more, remaining apical flagellar segments gradually increasing in length such that F10 about 1.2 times length of F1. Vertex behind lateral ocellus 2.5-3.0 OD in length. Genal width 1.0 to nearly 1.5 times that of compound eye in lateral view (wider dorsally). Preoccipital margin rounded, not carinate. Hypostomal carina moderately high, more or less level along length of head except reduced to obsolescence at angle, sometimes forming weak triangular projection posterior to angle. Malus forming pointed apical spine, this spine more or less a continuation of nearby edge of vellum. Foretarsal segments excluding basitarsal and apical-most segments with anterior lobes slightly longer than posterior. Midtarsal segments with anterior and posterior lobes of equal width, slightly swollen; hind tarsal segments not swollen. Hind tibial spurs slightly curved at apical tips, outer spur about a fifth shorter than inner. Hind basitarsal segment with lateral margins of outer surface parallel along most of length, converging apically.

Distribution.

In the Nearctic, Osmia laticeps is known from Yukon east to Nova Scotia, and as far south as Ontario and Michigan. In the Palearctic, Osmia laticeps is known from Germany northwest to Sweden and Finland, east to Latvia and northern Siberian Russia ( Müller 2010 ).

Comments.

Osmia laticeps is oligoletic on Vaccinium ( Ericaceae ) ( Nilsson 2009 ).

Material examined.

CANADA: MANITOBA, Northern Region, 12 June 1952 (1♂, Ottawa), 20 June 1930 (2♀, 1♂, Logan); NOVA SCOTIA, Kings Co., 24 May 1932 , apple (1♂, Ottawa); ONTARIO, Kenora District, 10 June 1964 , Viola adunca (1♀, Ottawa); Ottawa, 22 May 1973 (1♂, Ottawa); QUEBEC, Abitibi-Témiscamingue Region, 24 May 1934 (1♀, Toronto); Nord-du-Québec Region, 9June 1956 (1♀, Ottawa); Bas-Saint-Laurent Region, 22 June 1916 (2♀, Ottawa); YUKON, 22 May 1951 (1♂, Ottawa), 28 May 1951 (3♂, Ottawa), 2 June 1951 (2♀, Ottawa), 12 June 1960 , 3500 ft (1♂, Ottawa), 17 July 1981 (1♀, Victoria); RUSSIA: Siberia, 11-15 July (1♀, Ottawa); SWEDEN: Norrbotten Co., 6 July 1975 (1♀, Uppsala); USA: MAINE, 15 June 1982 (1♀, St. Charles); MICHIGAN, Alger Co., 3-11 June 1982 , sand pit (1♀, 1♂, New York), 28 June 1982 , Vaccinium myrtilloides (1♀, St. Charles); Marquette Co., 10 June 1985 , Gaylussacia sp. (1♂, St. Charles), 18 June 1983 (1♀, St. Charles).

Anthophora nigriventris Zetterstedt 1838: 465 [Syntype female: presumed lost ( Tkalců 1995: 141 )].

Osmia nigriventris (Zetterstedt); Nylander 1848: 260 .

Osmia baicalensis Radoszkowski 1867: 80 [Lectotype female: Berlin]; Friese 1909: 126 [synonymy with Osmia dimidiata Morawitz]; Zanden 1991: 353 [Lectotype designation, rejection of synonymy with Osmia dimidiata Morawitz, synonymy with Osmia nigriventris (Zetterstedt)].

Osmia frigida Smith 1853: 142 [Male and female syntype series: London]; Sandhouse 1939: 35 [synonymy].

Osmia hudsonica Cresson 1864: 21 [Holotype male: Philadelphia]; Sandhouse 1939: 35 [synonymy].

Osmia corticalis Gerstäcker 1869: 331 [Lectotype female: Berlin]; Thomson 1872: 244 [synonymy]; Tkalců 1995: 141 [Lectotype designation (but see Nilsson 2009: 50 )].

Osmia (Melanosmia) nigriventris (Zetterstedt); Schmiedeknecht 1885-1886: 79 .

Osmia (Centrosmia) nigriventris (Zetterstedt); Sinha 1958: 244 ; Sinha and Michener 1958: 284 [revision].

Osmia (Centrosmia) nigriventris frigida Smith; Tkalců 1995: 141 .

Diagnosis.

Females of this species are known by the swollen clypeal margin (Figs 11, 12) (approaching the extreme look found in Osmia bucephala , but unlike in that species, there is no metallic coloration in the integument of the meso- and metasomata). Males are known by the strongly reflexed apicolateral angles of T5 and T6 (Fig. 53). Unlike in Osmia bucephala , the midleg tarsal segments 2-4 are not modified or swollen, and S2 is unmodified (S2 of Osmia bucephala with a low tumescence bordered anteriorly and laterally by several rows of erect bristles).

Distribution.

In the Nearctic, Osmia nigriventris is known from Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Michigan north to Yukon and the Northwest Territories, east across Canada to Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland. In the Palearctic, Osmia nigriventris is known from France, Italy, and Slovakia north to Norway, Sweden, and Finland and east to Mongolia, northern China , and through Russia to Far Eastern Siberia ( Müller 2010 ).

Comments.

Osmia nigriventris is polylectic, with preference for Vaccinium ( Ericaceae ); it nests in old insect burrows in dead wood and constructs cell partitions and nest plugs with chewed leaves ( Müller 2010 and references therein).

Material examined.

19 July 1955 (1♂, Ottawa), 28 July 1955 (2♀, Ottawa); CANADA: ALBERTA, Alberta’s Rockies Region, (1♀, Ottawa), 21 May 1915 (1♀, 3♂, Ottawa), 25 May 1922 (1♀, Ottawa), 3 July 1968 , Dryas drummondii (1♀, Ottawa), 8 July 1968 , Hedysarum sulphurescens (1♂, Ottawa), 23 August 1955 , 4500 ft (1♀, Ottawa); Central Alberta, 8 June 1921 (1♂, Ottawa) BRITISH COLUMBIA, Stikine District, 6 June 1955 , 2200 ft (1♀, Ottawa), 9 June 1955 , 2200 ft (2♂, Ottawa), 26 July 1955 , 2200 ft (1♀, Ottawa); Columbia-Shuswap District, 1 August 1950 (1♀, Ottawa), 1 August 1952 , 6000 ft (1♀, Ottawa), 2 August 1952 , 6000 ft (1♀, Ottawa); Peace River District, 11 June 1948 (1♂, Ottawa), Thompson-Nicola District, 8 August 1943 (1♀, Ottawa); MANITOBA, Eastman Region, June 1966 (1♀, Ottawa); Northern Region, 31 May 1949 (1♂, Ottawa), 3 June 1952 (1♂, Ottawa), 12 June 1952 (1♂, Ottawa), 19 June 1949 (1♂, Ottawa), 26 June 1950 (1♂, Ottawa), 29 June 1949 (1♀, Ottawa), 5 July 1950 (1♂, Ottawa), 10 July 1952 (1♀, Ottawa), 13 July 1937 (1♀, Ottawa), 15 July 1949 (1♂, Ottawa), 17 July 1937 (1♀, Ottawa); NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, Great Northern Peninsula, 12 June 1951 (1♀, Ottawa); NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, Dehcho Region, 31 May 1969 (1♂, Ottawa), 5 June 1951 (2♂, Ottawa), 5 June1969 (1♀, Ottawa); Inuvik Region, 13 June 1956 (1♀, 7♂, Ottawa), 16 June 1956 (1♀, 4♂, Ottawa), 18 June 1956 (2♀, Ottawa), 21 June 1910 (1♂, New York), 22 June 1948 (1♀, 1♂, Ottawa), 22 June 1956 (1♀, Ottawa), 25 June 1948 (1♂, Ottawa), 26 June 1948 (1♀, 1♂, Ottawa), 27 June 1948 (1♀, Ottawa), 28 June 1956 (1♀, Ottawa), 29 June 1956 (1♀, 1♂, Ottawa), 2 July 1948 (2♀, Ottawa), 3 July 1956 (3♀, Ottawa), 7 July 1948 (1♂, Ottawa), 10 July 1948 (1♀, Ottawa), 18 July 1948 (1♀, Ottawa), 25 July 1957 (1♀, Ottawa); North Slave Region, 9 July 1949 (1♀, Ottawa); Sahtu Region, 9 June 1949 (1♀, 2♂, Ottawa), 12 June 1949 (1♀, Ottawa), 18 June 1948 (1♂, Ottawa), 3 July 1972 (1♀, Ottawa); ONTARIO, 17 May 1962 , Chamaedaphne sp. (1♂, Toronto); Kawartha Lakes, 24 May 1964 , Taraxacum officinale (1♂, Ottawa), 10 June 1964 , Taraxacum officinale (1♂, Ottawa); QUEBEC, Nord-du-Québec Region, 12 June– 8 August 1987 (1♀, Ottawa), 19 June 1956 (1♀, Ottawa), 25 June 1956 (1♂, Ottawa), 25 July 1954 (1♀, Ottawa); Côte-Nord Region, 7 July 1948 (1♂, Ottawa); YUKON, 22 May 1951 (1♀, Ottawa), 28 May 1951 (1♀, 3♂, Ottawa), 29 May 1951 (1♀, 1♂, Ottawa), 1 June 1951 (1♀, Ottawa), 2 June 1951 (1♀, Ottawa), 5 June 1951 (1♂, Ottawa), 15 June 1960 (1♂, Ottawa), 15 June 1980 (1♂, Victoria), 17 June 1960 , 3200 ft (2♀, Ottawa), 19 June 1960 , 3000 ft (1♀, Ottawa), 22 June 1982 (1♀, 2♂, Victoria), 23-25 June 1980 , 800 m (1♂, Logan), 27 June 1960 , 3300 ft (1♀, Ottawa), 27 June 1984 (1♂, Victoria), 29 June 1984 (1♂, Victoria), 1 July 1949 (1♀, Victoria), 1-4 July 1973 (1♀, Ottawa), 1-5 July 1987 , 720 m (1♂, Ottawa), 9 July 1983 , 2300 ft (1♀, Victoria), 9 August 1981 (1♀, Victoria); RUSSIA: Siberia, 3 July 1992 , Vaccinium vitis -idea (1♀, Davis); USA: ALASKA, Fairbanks North Star Borough, 5-13 May 2009 (1♀, Logan), 7 May 1982 , Pulsatilla patens (1♂, Davis), 5 June 1987 , Hedysarum mackenziei (1♀, Davis), 28 June 1987 , Hedysarum sp. (1♀, Davis); Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, 22 May 1985 , Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (1♀, Davis), 27 July 1982 , Aster sibiricus (1♀, Davis); Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, 30 June 1991 , Hedysarum boreale (1♀, Davis); IDAHO, Lemhi Co., 20 July 1963 (1♀, 1♂, Moscow); MICHIGAN, Marquette Co., 18 May 1982 , Amelanchier bartramiana (1♀, St. Charles), 19 May 1982 , Amelanchier bartramiana (1♂, St. Charles); MONTANA, Carbon Co., 22 June 1981 , 6200 ft (1♀, Boulder), 11 July 1963 , 5200 ft (1♀, Boulder); OREGON, Deschutes Co., 19 July 1927 , 5500 ft (1♀, Corvallis); WASHINGTON, Okanogan Co., 2 July 2004 (1♀, Logan); WYOMING, Fremont Co., 28 June 1990 , 10400 ft, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (1♂, Logan), 30 June 1990 , 10500 ft (1♂, Logan); Johnson Co., 22 July 1998 (1♀, Logan); Teton Co., 14 July 1930 (1♂, New York).

Homemade nest block showing full occupancy Mason bee nest cell with egg on pollen bed Worksheet cycle of larvae to cocoon

Mason bee is a name now commonly used for species of bees in the genus Osmia, of the family Megachilidae. Mason bees are named for their habit of using mud or other "masonry" products in constructing their nests, which are made in naturally occurring gaps such as between cracks in stones or other small dark cavities. When available, some species preferentially use hollow stems or holes in wood made by wood-boring insects.

Species of the genus include the orchard mason bee O. lignaria, the blueberry bee O. ribifloris, the hornfaced bee O. cornifrons, and the red mason bee O. bicornis. The former two are native to the Americas, the third to eastern Asia, and the latter to the European continent, although O. lignaria and O. cornifrons have been moved from their native ranges for commercial purposes. Over 300 species are found across the Northern Hemisphere. Most occur in temperate habitats within the Palearctic and Nearctic realms, and are active from spring through late summer.

Osmia species are frequently metallic green or blue, although many are blackish and at least one rust-red. Most have black ventral scopae which are difficult to notice unless laden with pollen. They have arolia between their claws, unlike Megachile or Anthidium species.

Historically, the term mason bee has also been used to refer to bees from a number of other genera under Megachilidae such as Chalicodoma, most notably in "The Mason-Bees" by Jean-Henri Fabre and his translator Alexander Teixeira de Mattos in 1914.