Excavator: ground. Nesting burrows of this species are usually excavated in firm sandy soils, including vertical banks. Nests have also been found under stones (Niemalä, 1936), in willow trunks (Morice in E. Saunders, 1896a), and in fallen, dry pine logs and fence posts (Erlandsson, 1955).
Benno (1945) describes and illustrates a nest he excavated in the Netherlands. It consisted of a short access burrow from which branched a pair of diverging burrows in which the cells were constructed. Westrich (1989) illustates a provisioned cell. E. Saunders (1896a) states that the cells are usually made from Rosa leaves; Nielsen (1902) records Betula leaves.