Species: Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes)
Family: Bumble and Honey Bees (APIDAE)
Category: Insects (Other)
Location: SE
A. Insects (Other)
More extensive information on insects can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Bumble and Honey Bees (APIDAE)
Honey and bumble bees are social insects, whereas all other bees are solitary. Bumble Bees live in small colonies, often underground but they can be in dense terrestrial vegetation. Most of those seen in Spring and early Summer will be females, males appearing in late Summer. They have long antennae. There are 17-24 species of Bumble Bee depending on which entomologist is compiling the classification. In former times, hives and bees were traditionally acquired by barter, or for gold or silver, for to exchange for cash was considered an unlucky transaction. It was considered bad luck to carry a hive across flowing water. Bees are said to be fussy about who manages them and will not produce honey for someone ill-behaved or of criminal tendencies, nor for someone quarrelsome or foul-mouthed. If bees suddenly quit a hive then death or ill-luck will visit the owner’s house. If a bee owner dies the hives must be turned. If a funeral cortège passes, hives must be lifted until it has gone from view. For all significant family news the hives are tapped and the news whispered to the bees, or the bees may leave in disgust, or misfortune may strike. At weddings or birthdays a piece of cake is given to the bees; at funerals black crêpe is wrapped round the hives. A swarm of bees settling on a dead tree is a portent of death. Note that various mason bees and mining bees have also been found in the Cemetery.
C. Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes)
The Hairy-footed Flower Bee is in the vanguard of solitary bees emerging in Spring. Often mistaken for a bumblebee, this insect has rapid, darting flight. Females are larger than males and are usually dark-to-black. The smaller male can be ginger or grey, but is always paler than the female, although their colouring can be varied.
These solitary insects often nest in large, sometimes noisy, groups.
These bees are regularly seen in gardens and parks, often making use of soft mortar for their nests. They visit a range of Spring flowers, favouring those with tubular flowering heads, and are important pollinators.
Southern and eastern England (as well as Wales) benefit from the presence of this bee. They appear to be spreading north, even into southern Scotland, and were found in Ireland for the first time in 2022.
Images
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes)
These bees are regularly seen in gardens and parks, often making use of soft mortar for their nests. They visit a range of Spring flowers, favouring those with tubular flowering heads, and are important pollinators.
This male was seen in the cemetery in May 2024.
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes)
Often mistaken for a bumblebee, this insect has rapid, darting flight. Females are larger than males and usually dark-to-black. The smaller male can be ginger or grey but is always paler than the female.
This male was seen in the cemetery in May 2024.
