Adults: The Mason Bees are a diverse genus containing bees that range from brown and black, to iridescent green and blue. They're never red or yellow striped, as seen in some solitary bees. Some possess bare, shiny abdomens, whereas others are highly furry. Additionally, some will have plumes of yed and yellow hairs on the face, too. They display an array of nesting behaviours, readily nesting in bee blocks and hotels. Some species prefer nesting in hollow stems whereas others will nest in human-made structures. They use clay-type soil to partition nest cells. They're slightly smaller than your average garden bumblebee. Larvae and Eggs: A female bee will lay an egg in each cell, with a little ball of pollen and nectar. When the eggs hatch they become bigger until ready to pupate, emerging as mature bees the following year.

Will nest in naturally occurring gaps in trees and plants. Sometimes, they'll nest in gaps of human-made structures. They are clumsy pollinators and may do a little damage to delicate flower types. They become covered in pollen in the process!

Diurnal

These bees are effective pollinators, bringing benefits to gardens. Encourage these bees to your garden by planting bee-friendly flowers and fruits. These bees are solitary, so readily make use of insect and bee hotels. Likewise, they'll happily nest in things like wood blocks, too! Make sure you do your research on hotel placement and hygiene!

It's not advised to treat gardens with bees. Plants which are in flower should not be sprayed if possible. Bees can be affected even if they weren't intended to be.