Osmia lanei is a species of bee belonging to the genus Osmia and the family Megachilidae. They are native to northern California.[1] Like all mason bees, it is solitary and does not work in massive hives.[2] The species was first described in 1939 by Grace A. Sandhouse.[3][4]

Osmia lanei
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Megachilidae
Genus: Osmia
Species:
O. lanei
Binomial name
Osmia lanei
Sandhouse, 1939

Nesting

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The females generally dig underground on their own to make their nests, which can have up to 1–3 cells and are constructed solely out of masticated leaf material which bees gather and bring back to the nest.

Nesting in rocky areas very likely offers O. lanei protection from the weather, predators, cleptoparasites and allows females nesting underneath rocks to extend their foraging windows.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "SCAN Detailed Collection Record Information". scan-bugs.org. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  2. ^ a b Otto, Courtney (2006). "Natural history and habitat selection by Osmia lanei, a solitary bee". Humboldt State University. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Sandhouse, Grace A. (1939). "Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Washington". The North American Bees of the Genus Osmia (Hymenoptera: Apoidea): 1–167.
  4. ^ Krombein, Karl V.; Hurd, Paul D. Jr.; Smith, David R.; Burks, B. D. (1979). "Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico". 2. Smithsonian Institution Press: 1199–2209. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)