Osmia parietina Curtis 1828

Osmia parietina Curtis, 1828 Conservation status EN Distribution The population trend of O. parietina in Belgium is not well studied. Although Rasmont (1993) assessed its population as stable, more recent estimates suggest that the species is now declining in Belgium (Drossart 2019). Forestry practices that promote the retention of deadwood could benefit this species by providing suitable nesting habitats. Notes This species favours mixed habitats, including open, sunny areas and woodlands for nesting (Westrich 2008). Data from Belgium suggest that O. parietina is a generalist species, with a particular preference for Fabaceae (Westrich 2008, Pauly, pers. comm. 2015). Diagnosis Osmia parietina is a small species of Megachilidae, characterised by predominantly brown hairs on the mesosoma, interspersed with some black hairs (Fig. 14). It closely resembles O. uncinata, though O. parietina is smaller and has a less densely hairy metasoma (Pauly 2015 b).