Excavator: Ground. This species nests gregariously in both firm, level soil and in low cliffs. A nest is figured by O'Toole & Raw (1991). The burrow is reported to be 150-200 cm in length (F. Smith, 1846b) and from this lateral cells arise. The oval cell is perfectly smooth within and is coated with a liquid secreted by the female; this secretion prevents the semi-liquid provision from being absorbed into the substrate (Smith, 1876). Nielsen (1902, 1941) describes and figures nests of this species. According to Smith (1846b, 1876) the prepupa overwinters, finally pupating within a tough, brown, parchment-like cocoon the following April. In late August, Sladen (1895) excavated a nesting aggregation in east Kent and counted 180 cocoons. Of these, 54 contained fully developed bees, the remainder containing prepupae; thus it is possible that the species may pass the winter in either of these stages.