What kind of bee is this? - Ask Extension
We have see 3 of these bees enter our house through our upstairs closed window today. We have been watching out the window and noticed 1 or 2 more fly...
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What kind of bee is this? #767371
Asked August 14, 2021, 7:03 PM EDT
We have see 3 of these bees enter our house through our upstairs closed window today. We have been watching out the window and noticed 1 or 2 more flying around outside the window and they always go to the bottom left corner. We are wondering if they are some kind of mason bee or wool carder bee that perhaps has a nest inside the window frame, but we aren't sure. We also haven't been able to identify the precise location where they are entering the house. What can we do to stop them from coming inside? Should we be concerned that they are damaging our house?
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Allison,
We'd need to get this bee under a microscope, but it is some kind of Anthidiini, which includes the European Wool Carder bee, but also the resin bees. Regardless of the actual species we can say a few things off the bat; first, these bees are solitary and don't form a colony and second they are using an existing cavity and are not causing structural damage. They have likely found some pre-existing holes in the house they are nesting in. They won't enlarge the holes. They are likely coming inside by accident, so if you keep the windows closed until they slow down their activity (they only have an adult life span of a few weeks) they shouldn't come inside.
