HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > APOIDEA > Apidae

Our smallest Anthophora species, hence the alternative common name of the Little Flower Bee. Females can be separated from the not dissimilar Anthophora quadrimaculata by the more conspicuous hair bands on the abdomen, and the partially yellow face with two black marks below the antennae, whereas quadrimaculata has an all-black face. Males have a plain yellow face. Anthophora bimaculata is a southern species associated with very sandy habitats such as heathland and coastal dunes, where nesting occurs in both flat areas and sand banks. Adults fly from June until September, and when doing so emit a rather noisy characteristic high-pitched hum.