Fringe Horned Mason Bee
Osmia pilicornis
The Fringe Horned Mason Bee is a distinctive solitary bee species characterized by prominent horn-like projections on the male's antennae that are fringed with specialized hairs. This medium-sized mason bee constructs individual brood cells using mud and plant materials, typically nesting in cavities within dead wood or rock crevices.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Megachilidae
Genus
Osmia
Fringe Horned Mason Bee belongs to the family Megachilidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The Fringe Horned Mason Bee is a distinctive solitary bee species characterized by prominent horn-like projections on the male's antennae that are fringed with specialized hairs. This medium-sized mason bee constructs individual brood cells using mud and plant materials, typically nesting in cavities within dead wood or rock crevices. As a specialized pollinator, it plays a crucial role in maintaining plant diversity within its native ecosystems.
The Fringe Horned Mason Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized nesting sites in coastal areas. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in land management practices have eliminated much of the species' required habitat, while climate change may be altering the availability of suitable nesting conditions and food plants.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
The Fringe Horned Mason Bee inhabits mature deciduous and mixed woodlands with abundant dead standing timber and fallen logs that provide essential nesting cavities. It requires areas with diverse native wildflower meadows and woodland edges within close proximity to its nesting sites, particularly favoring locations with south-facing slopes that receive optimal sun exposure.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Fringe Horned Mason Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized nesting sites in coastal areas. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in land management practices have eliminated much of the species' required habitat, while climate change may be altering the availability of suitable nesting conditions and food plants.
Agricultural intensification
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Urban development and coastal development
Changes in land management practices
Climate change impacts on habitat suitability
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Fringe Horned Mason Bee (Osmia pilicornis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/fringe-horned-mason-bee