Red-tailed Mason Bee (Osmia bicolor)
I featured this nationally rare and notable species of bee quite recently, with a little information and a third-party video.
However, after spotting a female in mid-air with debris, I carefully followed her flight path to find her putting the last few pieces of a protective cover over her recently completed snail-shell nest.
It took a while but I eventually found a suitable angle to film events without disturbing her, the results of which you can watch below, accompanied by a much more detailed commentary.
This was a special afternoon.
"Osmia bicolor" is a Palearctic species of bee in the genus "Osmia". It is outstanding amongst other megachilid bees in that it nests in empty snail shells.
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