Bighead Mason Bee

Osmia bucephala

General Status Rank: 
Secure
Common Name: 
Bighead Mason Bee
Scientific Name: 
Osmia bucephala
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Hymenoptera (Bee)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Arthropoda
Class: 
Insecta
Order: 
Hymenoptera
Family: 
Megachilidae
Habitat
named from their habit of making compartments of mud in their nests, which are made in hollow reeds or holes in wood made by wood boring insects
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield
References: 
H265

Distribution

In Canada known from YT, NT, BC, AB, ON, QC, NB, NS, NL and PE. There are currently no records in NU however the species likely ranges in this territory. Widespread in many ecozones across Canada (HSS010).
Score: 
FG
References: 
HSS010

Number of Occurrences

3 (DD14); 3: AMNH record (unknown location), Yellowknife, Ft Resolution; In Canada known from YT, NT, BC, AB, ON, QC, NB, NS, NL and PE. There are currently no records in NU however the species likely ranges in this territory. Widespread in many ecozones across Canada. Common.
Score: 
AD
References: 
HSS010
DD14

Area of Occupancy

Score: 
-
References: 
HSS010
Population

Population Size

Score: 
U
References: 
HSS010
Trends

Trends

SHORT TERM: Presumably stable.
Score: 
G
References: 
HSS010
Threats

Threats

Cumulative threats from habitat loss and/or conversion to agriculture/urban development, invasive non-native species, climate change, livestock grazing, recreational use, etc. (as outlined in short and long-term trends) have all likely contributed to declines in bee abundance. The specific impact to each bee species is unknown due to lack of specimen data, surveys, natural history information of a species and analysis of these impacts on these variables (HSS010).
References: 
HSS010

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Cumulative threats from habitat loss and/or conversion to agriculture/urban development, invasive non-native species, climate change, livestock grazing, recreational use, etc. (as outlined in short and long-term trends) have all likely contributed to declines in bee abundance. The specific impact to each bee species is unknown due to lack of specimen data, surveys, natural history information of a species and analysis of these impacts on these variables (HSS010).
Score: 
C
References: 
HSS010
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
Widespread and common; can be trap-nested; only 3 locations, but more expected in the NWT;Few historic records in NT, though many recent ones at RSKM. - common elsewhere in Canada.
S Rank: 
S3S4
Decision Process Description: 
Draft rank by C Sheffield (2011) (H253); Rank reviewed in 2014 by Cory Sheffield using the NatureServe Canada Rank Calculator; Reviewed in 2020 by C Sheffield, modified from undetermined to secure (more information)
Last Updated: 
November 24, 2020

References

Area of Occupancy

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return

Ecozones

  • Dumesh, S and Sheffield, C.S. (2012) NWT Bee Database 31 May 2012 - Updated with latlong June 2012. copy in Excel - H265 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return
  • Dumesh s., Sheffield, CS and Richardson Leif. (2012) NWT bee database with ranks (version June 2012).. e-copy available - DD14 Return

Population Size

Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return

Range Extent

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return

Threats

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return