HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > APOIDEA > Apidae

A widespread, albeit somewhat localised species across much of the south, occurring in various habitats ranging from coastal cliffs to calcareous grassland, but also frequently found in gardens. They are a relatively large, sexually dimorphic species with the sexes having very different appearance. The females being all black apart from having orange hairs on the hind tibia, which may be difficult to see if they're carrying pollen, whereas the similar sized males are brown-haired with cream-coloured markings on the face and a fringe of long hairs on the mid tarsi. The males usually emerge a couple of weeks before the females, typically around early March and surviving for just a couple of months. The females can persist into June and, possibly even through to early July.

Their presence in the garden made them an interesting species to observe; seeing the females calmly going about their business of feeding and collecting pollen, whilst the active, rather over-excited and easily distracted males were rapidly flying around, feeding briefly, but the next second hovering to pester or pursue the nearest female.