Miner Bee Perhaps?

heatherannej · #1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 01:27 PM

Hello there, Is this a Miner Bee please? Many individuals can be seen going down individual holes in the earth next to my front garden in North Essex.
Many thanks indeed Heather

Geoff F · #2 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 03:51 PM

At this time of the year, Heather, any all black somewhat 'dumpy' bee tends to suggest Anthophora plumipes but it may be difficult to be sure from that one photo.

But that is just a starting suggestion not a confirmed identification. Let's see what the bee experts have to say.

eucera · #3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 10:48 PM

I think this looks a bit like the cuckoo bee Melecta albifrons. I think I can see some white patches on the side of the abdomen

heatherannej · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 09:36 AM

Hi All .... I am finding it hard to photographs these bees .... they appear from nowhere and disappear down a hole or under the fence (and down a hole, I guess). Some have a brown end to their body, others are all black. I don't know whether these extra pics help at all - one is similar to the first one I posted but may be slightly better image (coming out), the other is in motion, going in. Heather

heatherannej · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 09:59 AM

They are black, are they a 'Black Bee'? :-) Heather

heatherannej · #6 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 10:13 AM

Being ignorant as I am, sorry for being a pest. I've looked up Melecta albifrons (cuckoo bee of the Anthophora plumipes?) ..... is the cuckoo name comparable to the bird situation please? Would the Melecta albifrons only be associated with the Anthophora plumipes? Does Melecta albifrons have a common name? Just trying to get my head around this :-) Heather

Jason Green · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 01:56 PM

Afternoon Heather,

No pest! The common name is Wool Carder-bee, and yes it behaves parasitically with regards to the nest of the host the Hairy-footed Flower-bee A. plumipes.

Now over to someone else to embellish the life-cycle skeleton I have laid out!

Take care,

Jason

eucera · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 02:14 PM

There is no common name of Melecta albifrons I'm afraid. We have to make do with the scientific name.

It is host specific on Anthophora plumipes - which has been given the ridiculously long vernacular name of "Hairy-footed Flower-bee".

There was a second species of Melecta in UK until about 100 years ago, viz Melecta luctuosa which was a cuckoo on Anthophora retusa, probably our most declined solitary bee. A. retusa still clings on in a couple of places on the south coast, and also in the Channel Islands (it is very abundant on Sark).

Just to correct Jason's little slip... the "Wool Carder-bee is actually Anthidium manicatum and not Melecta albifrons.