Counter
German

Mason Bees - Osmia rufa / O.cornuta

All-round Pollinator for Field & Greenhouse

A service of the Dr. Schubert Plant Breeding
English
Osmia rufa on Phacelia Copulation of Red Mason Bee Cocoons of Red Mason Bee Osmia rufa on Satureja hortensis Sambucus nigra as nesting material Sunflower Soil collector Borago officinalis Bee hotel Strawberryflowers Rapeseed

  Home

  Fields of application

  Handling

  Selling bees

  Nesting material

  Literature/ Links

  Imprint

  Data protection

Fields of Application of the Red Mason Bee (Osmia rufa L.)

Osmia rufa is a wild bee endemic in Middle Europe. It pollinates a wide spectrum of miscellaneous plant species.
The high pollination activity by polylectic foraging results in multi-purpose fields of application:

Main field

 Field of application Examples Notes
Seed- and
Fruit Production
Assurance of seedset to
conserve plant species and
breeding of new varieties

 Seed production,
hybrid breeding programmes		 Suitability for
isolation chambers and
greenhouses

Increase of fruit yield
in orcharding

 Strawberry production,
blueberry production,
apple- and cherry cultivation
 1 Bee pair for 1 tree
recommended


Nature Protection and
Landscape Conservation


 Reactivation of
ecosystems
 Colonisation of nesting material
We offer
starting populations
Pollination of
endangered wild plants
 Settlement of vanished species
Teaching and Research
Applicability as object for biology lessons &
training groups

Study of development and behavior of wild bees
 Disposition of nesting material
(bee hotels)
for settling at teaching location

Advantages of Osmia rufa compared to social insects (e.g. honey bees or bumble bees):

1. Effective application possible not only in the field but also in large and small greenhouses;
2. Higher pollination activity of a single bee;
3. Short distances for foraging restrict the spread of diseases (e.g. of fire blight);
4. Cocoons under cold storage (4°C) available to application at every time from March to September
5. Red mason bees do not sting!

Contact   Dr. Schubert Plant Breeding