Anthophora plumipes -male

[Toby]

Using the popular Collins guide I take this bee to be as stated. I have photographed the all black female many times but am less sure on the male:

[Laurence Clemons]

You are correct.

[LindaB]

Ahh, good timing on this post Toby, I took a quick pic of a black bee last night, not brilliant for ID purposes (hence my reason for not posting it up last night - I was hoping to get a better one than this), but it was difficult to get one pic to say the least.

Would anyone know if this is the black female by any chance? I accept it might be difficult to ID this one, but would be nice if it was possible. It actually looked totally black to the eye but the photo brought out a tinge of colour to the fur.



Thanks

Linda

[Toby]

the ones I have photographed really are all black - yours appears to have grey bands on the abdomen but i'm sure an expert will reply one way or the other.



actually looking at mine again I think yours is the female.

[nightshade]

Just out of interest I have had /noticed them in my garden for the first time
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...01-id-bee.html
It was the hovering that got my attention

[LindaB]

Originally Posted by Toby

the ones I have photographed really are all black - yours appears to have grey bands on the abdomen but i'm sure an expert will reply one way or the other.


actually looking at mine again I think yours is the female.

Thanks Toby, it does look practically the same. Mine did look completely black to the eye, it was just the photo brought out that little tinge colour on the fur.

I hope I can get a better photo, but these are really difficult to get close to as they are buzzing around all the time - oh and that reminds me, it did have the same loud buzz as the male one I got a little while ago.

Linda

[eucera]

All these pics are all of A. plumipes.

The males are brownish (and fading fast now)
females black (at least in UK)

The bees have very long tongues and can easily access the nectar in deep tubular flowers such as Comfrey and Pulmonaria

[LindaB]

Originally Posted by eucera

All these pics are all of A. plumipes.

The males are brownish (and fading fast now)
females black (at least in UK)

The bees have very long tongues and can easily access the nectar in deep tubular flowers such as Comfrey and Pulmonaria

Thanks very much Stuart

Linda