Mortar and Mining Bees

Mining Bee - soil

Mining Bee

Mortar Bee - Brick

Mining and Mortar bees

These are both solitary bees. Like all bees they are important pollinators of plants, but unlike honey bees and bumble bees they have no workers and have no collective nest.

Mortar bees excavate chambers in soft mortar joints in brick walls (approximately 20mm deep) and Mining bees will excavate chambers in soft/sandy soil. Although they are solitary they do excavate their chambers close together and thus give the impression of being a colony and occupying the same habitat. They do not sting, are beneficial, do not cause damage to buildings or pester people. The males and females are active from late April - mid June. On warm sunny days during this period they are busy constructing their chambers in mortar joints or soft/sandy soil. Despite popular belief mortar/masonry bees do not damage brickwork and mortar, and only take advantage of existing decay. They invariably choose areas that get a lot of sun and are frequently seen on South-facing elevations of buildings. The bees lay their eggs in their chambers, which they also stock with pollen and nectar. The chamber is then sealed.

Solitary is the state of being alone.