Florida scrub is a unique form of shrub environment located on ridges and knolls of wind-deposited sand. The area of observation is also known for endemism. While it is possible that the bee ranges further than has been observed, there has never been an attempt to comprehensively survey bees in Florida or document their hosts. This makes it possibly among the most geographically limited and host-specific bees in eastern North America. The majority of observations are from various undeveloped lots in Lake Placid. Osmia calaminthae has only been observed at eleven sites, primarily within a 20 kilometres (12 mi) long, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide area of sandy Florida scrub located in southern Lake Wales Ridge in Highlands County, Florida, and in Ocala National Forest in Marion County, Florida. The females, along with females of Osmia conjunctoides, are unique among North American Osmia (mason bees) for their short, erect, simple facial hairs utilized for pollen collection. The female is dark blue in color with some brown integument the male has a pale blue head and mesosoma, dark blue metasoma, and some brown integument. The male is 10 millimetres (0.39 in) in length with a 6 millimetres (0.24 in) long forewing. calaminthae ranges from 10–11 millimetres (0.39–0.43 in) in total length and has a forewing length of 6–7 millimetres (0.24–0.28 in). The name "calaminthae" is Latin for mint, as the presumed pollen host for the bee is Calamintha ashei, commonly known as Ashe's mint. The common name for the bee is derived from its distinctly blue color and its favored host plant, Calamintha ashei. It is considered Critically Imperiled by NatureServe. Osmia calaminthae, commonly known as the blue calamintha bee, is a rare species of mason bee known only from two small areas in Florida, United States.
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