About the Gold-Fringed Mason Bee
Osmia aurulenta is a Palearctic species of mason bee. 8–10 mm. Males in the field cannot be distinguished from similar Osmia species, especially when they are older. Females in a fresh state may be confused with the slimmer Osmia rufohirta due to the bright rust-red hairs of the thorax, the rust-red narrow tergite bandages and the rust-red belly brush. Females that are old are similar to Osmia tridentata.
From Portugal through Europe and Asia Minor to the Caucasus; north to Ireland and southern Scotland, to 59.5° N in Norway, 58° N in Sweden, in Russia to Udmurtia; south to Sicily, Greece and Lebanon. On calcareous subsoil. Inland dunes, rocky slopes, extensively grazed or fallow sheep pastures (juniper heaths), old fallow vineyards, structurally rich forest edges, abandoned quarries, in the limestone low mountain ranges also stony and sparsely overgrown road embankments, there occasionally also in the settlement area. From the lowlands to the montane, in southern Switzerland to the subalpine altitude.
The flight period ranges in a generation from March to July, beginning of March to the beginning of September in Switzerland... Wikipedia →