Can someone please help me identify these black bees?

[rockink]

Can someone please help me identify these black bees? They look very similar to my honey bees but are going in and out of a hole in the cedar siding.. I blocked the hole in the picture with some tape and it appears to be only 2 bees that were using the hole. The same goes for a similar location out front of my house..

I live in central Missouri.

Thanks,
Ken

[The15thMember]

I'm almost certain they are mason bees, probably a species of Osmia.  Go unblock the holes and let them back into their nests.  They do not chew on/eat wood nor do they make wax, and they are doing no damage.  They are solitary bees that nest only in preexisting holes.  I have similar bees nesting in the stonework on my house, and I put up nesting tubes for them to try and draw them in.         

[Donovan J]

I was going to say carpenter bee but they have more of a yellow thorax so I agree with Member

[rockink]

Thank you! After googling Mason Bee the do look exactly like the picture i have. I really appreciate the help as I was going to spray and caulk these holes!

Thanks,
Ken

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[The15thMember]

Thank you! After googling Mason Bee the do look exactly like the picture i have. I really appreciate the help as I was going to spray and caulk these holes!

Thanks,
Ken

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Oh no!  Thank you so much for not caulking the holes!  They are really great bees.  They are incredibly docile and they pollinate some plants even better than honey bees. 

[van from Arkansas]

Ms. Member, the Mason bee has a happy home since you took the time to post the correct answer.  After all things considered; that is the purpose of this forum.  To educate newbies, yes of course, but the bottom line is saving the bees.  Even a single lil ol mason bee, that Rock spared.  Both, Member and Rock, give yourself a pat on the back for caring about a single bee.
Blessings

[The15thMember]

Ms. Member, the Mason bee has a happy home since you took the time to post the correct answer.  After all things considered; that is the purpose of this forum.  To educate newbies, yes of course, but the bottom line is saving the bees.  Even a single lil ol mason bee, that Rock spared.  Both, Member and Rock, give yourself a pat on the back for caring about a single bee.
Blessings

Thanks Van.  I absolutely agree.  When people try to save the bees, they often only think about honey bees, but the native bees need help too, even more so than the honey bees.   

[rockink]

Absolutely! Thank you both.. I love my bees and knew I could find what I needed here!

Thanks,
Ken

[Kathyp]

since you have them, you may want to look into putting up a mason bee house.  They will keep producing and you'll have more next year.  We fill about one MB house a year.  It might be too late this year as they don't stay out too long, but if you can find one it wouldn't hurt to put it up.  If not this year, find one for next year.  Put it close to where they are already nesting.

If my husband keeps expanding his, he'll have the back of the house covered with mason bee homes in a few years!