Colletes hederae

Geoff F · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 06:15 PM

Further to my recent question concerning an unidentified Colletes bee.

Today, I saw my first 'swarm' of Colletes hederae this year. At least I assume that was the species. I took around 70 photos but haven't managed a proper sort through them yet.

Here are a couple picked at random.

S. Devon coast, about 50 yards from the beach. At least 100 swarming around burrows near the top of a virtually perpendicular 12 ft bank.

Just room for 2 tripod legs and my toes on a narrow ledge half way up!

Tomorrow, I will try to sort out the best images.

eucera · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 08:30 PM

Hi Geoff

Certainly these are C. hederae. I saw a large nesting aggregation in an Andover garden late this afternoon, and a lot of males at Ivy in the village of Over Wallop (Both Hants.)

Could you please pm me the details so I can database them?

Cheers, Stuart

Geoff F · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 08:53 PM

Yes I will send you the full information.

It was a new site for me. I had walked a mile along the cliff top and down a narrow track which usually has something of interest but had drawn a total blank except for one hoverfly; and even that flew away before I could snap it.

This was just a last hope to find something interesting.

I will keep a look out for other sights, but the spot where I saw them last year can only be approached by water so I will probably have to wait a couple of days for the tides to work right.