HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > APOIDEA > Melittidae

The females of this particular species are said to be pretty much unmistakable due to their conspicuous, oversized, orangey-yellow pollen brushes on the hind legs, and banded abdomen. The males resemble large Melitta leporine males, but with two rather than three submarginal wing cells and much longer legs. They are fairly large bees with a body length of around 13mm. Dasypoda hirtipes is a southern-biased species of very sandy habitats such as coastal dunes, sandpits and inland heaths where nesting occurs in suitable flat, even well-trodden, areas. Adults usually fly from late June until early September.