Orchard-bee
Guides
Osmia chalybea
Osmia chalybea is a solitary mason bee (Megachilidae) native to North America. It nests in pre-existing cavities and has been studied as a potential pollinator for orchard crops, particularly blueberries. The species serves as a host for the cleptoparasitic bee Stelis ater. It is one of several Osmia species evaluated for commercial management in agricultural pollination systems.
Osmia lignaria
blue orchard bee, orchard mason bee, BOB
A solitary megachilid bee native to North America, widely managed for pollination of early spring fruit crops including almonds, apples, and cherries. Distinguished by metallic blue coloration, smaller size than honey bees, and unique mud-nesting behavior. Divided into two subspecies by the Rocky Mountains: O. l. propinqua (west) and O. l. lignaria (east).
Osmia lignaria propinqua
Western Blue Orchard Bee, Blue Orchard Bee, BOB
Osmia lignaria propinqua is a solitary, cavity-nesting mason bee native to western North America, commonly known as the Western Blue Orchard Bee or BOB. It is a subspecies of the blue orchard bee and is valued as a highly efficient pollinator of early-blooming fruit trees including almonds, cherries, apples, and plums. Females carry dry pollen on the scopa (hairs) beneath the abdomen rather than on leg baskets, and they forage at lower temperatures and for more hours than honey bees. The species is managed commercially in orchards, where it is often deployed alongside honey bees to improve cross-pollination through its tendency to move between trees rather than forage systematically on single plants.