Blue Orchard & Hornfaced description

  • The blue orchard bee at first glance is easily confused with the common housefly. The longer antennae are a big giveaway but the smaller eyes, four wings and abdomen with hairs for collecting the pollen are also very different.
  • Its deep blue color inspires its other name: the “blue orchard bee”.  This mason bee’s color can be green/blue as well.
male mason bee female mason bee common house fly

Male blue orchard mason bee

The males are smaller than the females at about half an inch (1.3 cm) with long antennae, and they usually have a bit of white hair on their head or chin.

Female blue orchard mason bee

The females are about 1/2-3/4 inches (1.3-1.9 cm) long, with shorter antennae. Their hairy bodies carry the pollen for them.

Common house fly

Note the different eyes and wing structure, and shorter antennae.
hornfaced mason bee on dandelion and finger
  • The imported Japanese hornfaced mason bee is now naturalized in the US and is very common in the central/eastern states.
  • The hornfaced bee has very similar characteristics of the cousin blue orchard bee.
  • The bee is brown with bands on its abdomen. There are tiny “horns” on their heads. Thus the name hornfaced!
  • Below, a female on left, a male on the right just after pooping on the photographer’s finger…  Note the antenna lengths between the two.

hornfaced mason bee on purple flowermale hornfaced mason bee pooping on finger

Comparison of a mason bee to a honey bee

Mason Bee

Honey bee
Mason Bee on dandelion
 honey bee
►Does not produce honey
 ►The honey producing champion
►Native to North America
 ►Imported from Europe
►Extremely gentle
 ►Will sting to protect the hive
►Life span of 6-8 weeks
 ►Life span of 6-8 weeks, though the hive constantly replaces dead workers so the hive is active year round.
►Solitary structured. The female does everything.
 ►Hive structured (Queens, drones, nurses, sentries, pollen gatherers, nectar gatherers, etc.)
►Dry pollen falls off everywhere making this a huge pollinator.
 ►Pollen is sticky and carried on back legs.  Little pollen falls off.

How gentle are they really?

  • The males have no stinger. The females can sting but really have to be in personal jeopardy. If caught in clothing or pinched between fingers, then yes. The venom is very mild and generally produces little long term pain or swelling.
  • The likelihood of getting anaphylactic shock is very remote, since the likelihood of getting enough venom in your blood to produce antibodies is low. In discussion with US scientists and entomologists, there are no known cases to date. Mason bee venom is different than honey bees produce so people sensitive to honey bee venom are not sensitive to venom from native bees.
  • Mason bees may fly around your head when you look into their tubes so it is possible to be hit accidentally by a flying bee. Picture a speeding bee with an open highway and suddenly a large wall is in the way… Still, they tend to bounce off your head and move around you to their destination
  • To hold a mason bee in your hand, place a finger near their holes as they come in for a landing.  In early morning or late evening, they’re far more slower as the temperatures will have cooled them down.
 mason bee on hand by dave hunter

Finding wild mason bees

  • The blue orchard bee is found in most all states of the US and Canada.  They tend to be less prevalent in the humid SE (such as Florida or Missouri).
  • The naturalized Japanese hornfaced is found in most states east of the Rockies.
native mason bees use old trees for nesting
cedar shakes for mason bees
lawn furniture mason bee hole by Steve Larsen
The natural home is an old tree with crevices and deep holes. Shake siding has great nesting holes. Lawn furniture has holes that work as well!

 

  • There are many species of mason bees.  Each use existing holes of various sizes to nest in.  The mason bee is a non-destructive insect!
  • Although they might not initially be in abundance around your yard, if you have pollen, good mud that is moist , the right size holes, and a great morning sun location for the mason bee house, the bees are easily introduced.
  • Crown Bees also carries a new innovative product called “Bee Attractant“.  Science and the almond industry havemason bee attractant partnered to understand that mason bees are attracted to particular natural scents.  If downwind native blue orchard or hornfaced bees smell their natural nesting scent, will come to investigate and will more likely nest there.

sign up for bee mail