Osmia cornuta, a solitary bee, is now rapidly colonizing the south of England, a region that used to be too cold for this species to thrive.
In a time of climate challenges, the UK has gained a beneficial newcomer. The European orchard bee, Osmia cornuta. This brightly colored, honeybee-sized solitary bee has established itself in southern England and plays a crucial role as one of the first pollinators to emerge in spring. Notably, on the European continent, Osmia cornuta is considered a superior pollinator for crops like cherry and apple trees compared to honeybees.
Because this bee emerges early in the year and requires warmth, the UK was once too cold for it. Its first identification in Greenwich, London, in 2014.
This solitary bee’s species nests independently, with females laying egg and providing pollen in holes in wood, masonry or banks. The young bees emerge by digging out of their cocoons. Warms urban areas are a likely habitat for these bees, which readily utilize bee houses made of hollow canes.
