Ivy bee
(Colletes hederae)
Ivy bees are relative newcomers to the UK, first spotted in 2001. They can be seen in autumn, coinciding with the flowering of Ivy, which, as their name suggests, is their main food resource. These bees are medium to large (a little bigger than a honeybee), with ginger thoraxes and distinct orange/yellow striped abdomens.
Although they are solitary bees (with no workers or social structure) they often nest close together in large groups and can be found in gardens, parks and the wider countryside. These large nesting groups mainly occur on south-facing slopes with sparse vegetation and bare earth cliffs, as well as garden lawns and allotments.
Ivy bees are the last solitary bees of the year. Males appear from late August and females a few weeks later which can be seen into November. First found in Dorset in 2001, these bees have spread throughout the south coast of England and expanded northwards into south Wales and Shropshire in the West and Norfolk in the East.
Credit: Annie Ives
Females are slightly larger than a honeybee, with densely haired ginger thoraxes and broad orange/yellow striped abdomens. Their size and banding separates them from similar species in the same group (known as Plasterer bees).
Males are similar to females, but smaller. They are difficult to distinguish from other male Plasterer bees though, particularly the Sea Aster bee (Colletes halophilus) and the Heather Colletes bee (Colletes succictus). The late flying period and association with Ivy flowers can help narrow things down though.
For more information about this species visit the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society.
