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Living WorldA Shell Nesting BeeA Shell Nesting Bee

Trai Anfield is in Dorset to find a bee that builds its nest in empty snail shells.

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This bee sometimes smears the snail shell nest with a chewed up leaf

Image courtesy of John Walters

  • This bee sometimes smears the snail shell nest with a chewed up leaf
  • When the shell is sealed this bee covers it with a thatch of dead grass stems
  • Its large jaws enable Osmia bicolor to carry the grass to thatch its nest, looking a little bit like it is riding a broomstick
  • Osmia bicolor is a type of mason bee that makes its nest in empty snail shells

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