Ochraceous chimney bee

The mother digs a short burrow straight down into the ground. Around the door she often builds a little tower like a chimney, which gave it its name.

Many nests are sometimes dug close together where the soil is just right.

It is a picky eater. It collects pollen almost only from mallow flowers.

The female has a blond brush of hairs on her back legs for carrying pollen.

Its babies spend the winter in the ground and come out as bees later.