Early-spring-pollinator

Guides

• Osmia lignaria lignaria

  Eastern Blue Orchard Bee

  Osmia lignaria lignaria is the eastern subspecies of the blue orchard bee, a solitary mason bee native to North America. It is a managed pollinator prized for its efficiency in pollinating early spring-blooming fruit trees including almonds, apples, pears, and cherries. The bee nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems and beetle holes, sealing nest entrances with mud. It has experienced population declines in the eastern United States, with research ongoing into competition with non-native Osmia species and vulnerability to pesticides and parasites.

  native-pollinatorsolitary-beemason-beemanaged-beeearly-spring-pollinatororchard-pollinatoreastern-North-Americapesticide-sensitivityparasite-vulnerabilityOsmiaMegachilidae