Southern and central Europe, the Mediterranean region, the Balkans, Anatolia and parts of western Asia.
Fine-art photographic collection
Anthidiellum strigatum
A bee that moulds freestanding resin nurseries onto stones and stems.
About this species
European Rotund-Resin bee
Anthidiellum strigatum(Panzer, 1804)
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Unlike bees that hide their brood inside soil or pre-existing holes, Anthidiellum strigatum constructs exposed, drop-shaped cells from plant resin. The finished cluster is fixed directly to a solid surface above ground.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Hymenoptera · Megachilidae · Anthidiellum
Accepted species; current GBIF/Catalogue of Life authority is (Panzer, 1804), not 1805. · checked 2026-07-15
Southern Europe to western AsiaBroad documented range and selected occurrence localities — not a complete occurrence map.
Warm flower-rich habitats with resin sources and suitable nesting surfaces or cavities.
Adults are active in warm sunny weather during the summer flight season.
Adults feed on nectar; females collect pollen for brood cells.
Solitary.
What makes this species remarkable?
A female builds a completely freestanding nest of up to about eight drop-shaped brood cells made largely from conifer resin.
The resin walls provide structure, moisture resistance and antimicrobial protection for larvae developing in an exposed position.
The bee shows a strong pollen preference for bird’s-foot trefoil and related legumes, linking its resin architecture to flower-rich habitat.