Body is metallic blue or green; these are small bees with fuzzy bodies.
Nests are small earthen cells in brick veneer of buildings, beetle exit holes in wood, or soil. Females burrow into the soft mortar of stonework and brickwork and line their nest cells with soil.
Habits. These bees have strong mandibles and can tunnel into old or soft mortar.
When they excavate exit holes of wood—infesting beetles, frass is scattered and may give the impression of beetle activity.