Chelostoma florisomne

• Scientific name: Chelostoma florisomne
• Common name: large scissor bee
• Dimension: 8-10 mm
• Habitat: margins and woodland clearings, deforested areas, uncultivated areas, dry nutrient-rich meadows, traditional orchards, arid meadows, river banks, gardens and parks
• Behavior: solitary
• Collective behavior: oligolectic
• Larvae's diet: plants of the Ranunculus family
• Nest: in various above-ground cavities, especially in xylophagus insect galleries in dead wood
• Red list of bees in Switzerland: not endangered

Interesting Facts:

The females of the scissor bee genus can be recognized by their large mandibles. To build the nest, they produce a mixture of clay and sand mixed with nectar and saliva. A distinctive feature is the use of small pebbles to seal the entrance to the nest. Once dry, the plug becomes hard as stone.