Hairy-footed flower bee
(Anthophora plumipes)
This species is one of the first solitary bees to emerge in spring and, because of their round and hairy appearance, people often mistake them for small bumblebees. Their quick darting flight, compared to the slower bumbling flight of a bumblebee, is a good way to tell them apart.
Although they are solitary bees (with no workers or social structure) they often nest close together in large groups and are frequently found in gardens, parks and the wider countryside. Nests tend to be made in soft mortar, cob walls, exposed banks, soft cliff faces, and occasionally in the ground in compact clay soils.
Hairy-footed flower bees can be active between February and June and are often seen visiting lungworts, primroses, dead-nettles and comfrey. They are found throughout most of England and Wales, but are more common in the south and east. There are increasing records from northern England, and southern and central Scotland.
Credit: Chris Slaney
Male Hairy-footed flower bees are a uniform pale gingery brown with cream-coloured hair on their face. They also have distinctive long feathery hairs on their legs/feet which is where this species gets its name from. Males can often be seen patrolling areas of flowers in the hopes of finding a mate. They will chase other insects out of their territory.
Credit: Chris Slaney
Females look very different to males. They are black all over, except for orangey red hairs on their hind legs. Once they have successfully mated, they can be seen collecting pollen which they gather on their hind legs to transport back to their nest cells. They lay an egg in each cell, provision it with enough pollen to feed the larvae and then seal it up. The young develop over the coming year and will emerge next spring.
For more information about this species visit the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society.
