What to look for: The females resemble furry, black bumblebees. The males are brownish-orange in colour and have distinctive ginger hairs on their middle legs and feet
Favourite plants: Wildflowers, herbs and bedding flowers
Making a nest: Nest in natural holes in soft mortar and soil
When active: Spring and summer
Where seen: Widespread across England and Wales
Hairy-footed Flower Bee
The hairy-footed flower bee is an important pollinator for early spring flowers. The females, like the one above, resemble furry, black bumblebees. The males are more of a brownish-orange colour and really standout from the crowd with their distinctive ginger hairs on their middle legs and feet.
These solitary bees are seen across England and Wales from March to June buzzing around their favourite flowers.
Hairy-footed flower bees seek out holes in soft mortar or in bee hotels. Occasionally, they will even nest in loose sandy soil close to their favorite flowers.