Posts Tagged: blue orchard bee

UC Davis Research: A Double Punch to the Blue Orchard Bee

In a first-of-its-kind study, UC Davis research shows that the double punch of pesticide exposure and food scarcity drastically affects the reproduction of the blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria, a wild bee known for pollinating early spring...

UC Davis doctoral student Clara Stuligross by her blue orchard bee nests in the spring of 2018. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis doctoral student Clara Stuligross by her blue orchard bee nests in the spring of 2018. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria (marked in yellow), heading for Phacelia tanacetifolia. (Photo by Clara Stuligross)

A blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria (marked in yellow), heading for Phacelia tanacetifolia. (Photo by Clara Stuligross)

A Hole for One

During the day, European wool carder bees (so named because the females collect or "card" plant fuzz for their nests) forage on our catmint and lamb's ear. These bees, Anthidium manicatum, are about the size of a honey bee, but with striking yellow and...

This bee condo, meant for blue orchard bees, is attracting a European wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This bee condo, meant for blue orchard bees, is attracting a European wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a sleeping European wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a sleeping European wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

European wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum, in flight, heading for lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

European wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum, in flight, heading for lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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