European Wool Carder Bee

Description:

It is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae, the leaf-cutter bees or mason bees. They get the name 'carder' from their behaviour of scraping hair from leaves such as lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina). They carry this hair bundled beneath their bodies to be used as a nest lining. It is an Old World bee. It has a wingspan of approximately 20 mm , with a body length of about 11 - 13 mm for females, and 14 - 17 mm for males. This bee is mostly black and yellow, with some orange fur. There are also some yellow markings present on the legs and sides of the abdomen. The males are substantially larger than females

Habitat:

Is found in parts of Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America. It has also recently been documented in the Canary Islands, and South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This insect was accidentally introduced into the United States from Europe sometime prior to 1963, when it was discovered in New York State. It has since spread from the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada across the United States to California, where it was first collected in 2007. They live in disturbed habitats, and nest in cavities in rotting wood, and walls.