| Osmia lignaria | |
|---|---|
| |
| Blue orchard bee, Multnomah County, Oregon, 2021 | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Megachilidae |
| Genus: | Osmia |
| Species: | O. lignaria
|
| Binomial name | |
| Osmia lignaria Say, 1837
| |
Osmia lignaria, commonly known as the orchard mason bee or blue orchard bee,[1] is a megachilid bee that makes nests in natural holes and reeds, creating individual cells for its brood that are separated by mud dividers. Unlike carpenter bees, it cannot drill holes in wood. O. lignaria is a common species used for early spring fruit bloom in the United States and Canada, though a number of other Osmia species are cultured for use in pollination.
- ^ Black, Scott Hoffman; Shepherd, Matthew; Vaughan, Mace; LaBar, Caitlin; Hodges, Nathan (November 2009), Yolo Natural Heritage Program (HCP/NCCP): Pollinator Conservation Strategy (PDF), Portland, OR / Sacramento, CA: The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, retrieved March 24, 2011