The Spotted Red Resin Bee (Rhodanthidium sticticum) is a solitary, Mediterranean bee recognizable by its striking black-and-red markings. Active during spring, these bees are unique for nesting and sheltering inside empty snail shells, using sand and plant resin to seal their brood chambers.
Key Biological Facts
Appearance & Size: They belong to the Megachilidae family and feature a tough outer layer (integument) with bold red-orange and black bands.
Habitat & Range: These bees thrive in the scrublands, grasslands, and mountainous regions of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), southern France, and North Africa.
Snail Shell Nests: Females lay 1–2 eggs in empty snail shells (such as Otala punctata), provision them with pollen and nectar, and seal the entrance with a mortar of sand and resin. The shell is then hidden under brush with the opening facing downward.
Shared Shelter: Aside from nesting, they use snail shells as communal overnight or bad-weather refuges, sometimes sharing space with different bee species.
Territorial Males: Males are highly territorial. They defend patches of a few square meters, aggressively chasing off rival males and other bee species to secure mating opportunities.
Foraging Habits: Though opportunistic, they show a distinct preference for melittophilic flowers, especially those of the snapdragon genus (Antirrhinum).
