Wildlife Review 2025: Bees

With 47 species recorded, similar to last year but down from 55 noted in 2023. Two new species were added to the list, Tawny Mining Bee Andrena fulva and Orange-vented Mason Bee Osmia leaiana. A discovery of a nesting aggregation of the scarce Red-girdled Mining Bee Andrena labiata was a welcome surprise. Missing mining bees included Ashy Andrena cineraria, Grey-patched A. nitida and Hairy Colletes C. fodiens and Painted Nomad Bee Nomada fucata. The Colletes may have just been overlooked, however the shrub nectaring spring flying mining bees may have been weather affected.

Colletes - Plaster bees

The summer flying Bare-saddled Colletes C. similis appeared from 17th July into September, coinciding with flowering Ragwort, and was common in the meadows. Less so was Heather Colletes C. succinctus, confined to small patches of Heather, it appeared for a few weeks from 28th July.  The other plant specialist Ivy Bee C. hederae was found from 11th September, persisting until 23rd October with the last of the flowering Ivy.

Bare-saddled Colletes C. similis - Alan Keatley

Hylaeus - Yellow-faced bees

Mostly tiny, easily overlooked black solitary bees. Only one species is commonly found in the Recording Area, the appropriately named Common Yellow-faced Bee H. communis, first noted on 2nd June, this 4mm sized bee flavours umbellifers. No other Hylaeus were found this year.

Common Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus communis - Alan Keatley

Andrena - Mining bees

As mentioned above, a few missing spring flying species this year and fewer overall. Faring better were Yellow-legged Mining Bee A. flavipes with nesting aggregations in the Buffer Zone and Langstone Rock from 20th March. This two generation mining bee is one of commonest on site.

Less common were the single generation Buffish Mining Bee A. nigroaenea from 16th March, Trimmer's Mining Bee A. trimmerana from 24th March, Chocolate Mining Bee A. scotica and Short-fringed Mining Bee A. dorsata from 29th March. Other spring emerging Andrena mining bees included the first of many Sandpit A. barbilabris around bare sand areas from 29th March into the summer, Common Mini-miner A. minutula from 31st March, Gwynne's A. bicolor from 4th April, Small Sallow A. praecox and Tawny A. fulva on 5th April, the first for the Recording Area, with Orange-tailed A. haemorrhous from 7th April, and the scarce Black A. pilipes from 17th April. 

Black Mining Bee Andrena pilipes - Alan Keatley

New mining bee emergences in May included the scarce Catsear A. humilis from 14th May and Red-girdled A. labiata was found from 16th. This scarce mining bee is usually found on Forget-me-nots and Speedwells with a small aggregation found in Skipper Meadow around abundant Germander Speedwell. 

Red-girdled Mining Bee Andrena labiata - Alan Keatley

Panurgus - Shaggy bees

Just one species recorded this year, Small Shaggy Bee P. calcaratus on 16th and 21st June.

Small Shaggy Bee Panurgus calcaratus - Alan Keatley

Halictus - End-banded Furrow bees

Small metallic looking bees inhabiting flower meadows, with the commonest species Bronze Furrow Bee H. tumulorum first noted on 16th May. Females appear in spring with males later from end of June. Just a few females recorded this year.

Bronze Furrow Bee Halictus tumulorum - Alan Keatley

Lasioglossum - Base-banded Furrow bees

Another family of small bees. By far the most numerous on site is Green Furrow Bee L. morio with aggregations near to Langstone Rock. Females can appear in March, although the first this year was not until 22nd April, males appear later in June and can be equally numerous lasting through to October. Common Furrow Bee L. calceatum also have a long flight period; the first female was noted on 31st March with the last on 25th August. 

Common Furrow Bee Lasioglossum calceatum - Alan Keatley

Less frequent were White-zoned Furrow Bee L. leucozonium with a female on 19th May; both sexes are usually found on cat's ear and fleabane in the summer. A scarcer species, Long-faced Furrow Bee L. punctatissimum was noted on 16th and 21st July.

Long-faced Furrow Bee Lasioglossum punctatissimum - Alan Keatley

Sphecodes - Blood bees

Small black and red cuckoo bees, laying eggs in host bee nests. Sandpit Blood Bee S. pellucidus is the commonest on site, usually found close to its host Sandpit Mining Bee Andrena barbilabris. The first record this year was on 20th May. The other species recorded was a Geoffroy's Blood Bee S. geoffrellus; tiny at just 5 mm it's a cuckoo bee of Lasioglossum furrow bees. One was noted on 10th July.

Geoffroy's Blood Bee Sphecodes geoffrellus - Alan Keatley

Dasypoda - Pantaloon bees

Only one British species, the Pantaloon Bee Dasypoda hirtipes easily recognised by the female pollen collecting brushes, invariably found on yellow composite flowers. The first record this year was on 16th June.

Pantaloon Bee Dasypoda hirtipes - Alan Keatley

Osmia - Mason bees

Red Mason Bee O. bicornis utilises holes and cracks in fencing to build their nests. The first was noted on 30th May. Also using holes in wooden fencing an Orange-vented Mason Bee O. leaiana was found on 30th June in Skipper Meadow, a new species for the Recording Area.

Orange-vented Mason Bee Osmia leaiana - Alan Keatley

Megachile - Leafcutter bees

By far the commonest leafcutter on site, found in large numbers in all loose sand areas, Silvery Leafcutter M. leachella. The first of many was noted on 17th May. The larger Coast Leafcutter M. maritima was found from 17th June but in lower numbers.

Silvery Leafcutter Megachile leachella - Alan Keatley

Coelioxys - Sharp-tail bees

Black and white cuckoo bees, the Large Sharp-tail C. conoidea, a cuckoo bee of Coast Leafcutter Megachile maritima is the most frequently encountered with the first noted on 14th May. A Shiny- vented Sharp-tail C. inermis, a cuckoo of various leafcutter bees was found on 1st September.

Shiny- vented Sharp-tail Coelioxys inermis - Alan Keatley

Nomada - Nomad bees

Another family of cuckoo bees, usually Andrena bees as hosts. Colourful with a combination of yellow, black and red marking. Appearances coincided with their hosts. The first of the year was Marsham's Nomad Bee N. marshamella on 21st April, with Flavous Nomad Bee N. flava on 2nd May and Gooden's Nomad Bee N. goodeniana on 3rd.

Marsham's Nomad Bee Nomada marshamella - Alan Keatley

Epeolus - Variegated cuckoo bees

Cuckoo bee of Colletes bees, Black-thighed Epeolus E. variegatus was noted from 14th June.

Anthophora - Flower bees

The fast-flying Hairy-footed Flower Bee A. plumipes with male and females noted around Dead-nettle and Rosemary flowers from 24th March. Little Flower Bee A. bimaculata, found around flower meadows and Bramble patches from 19th May with their distinctive green eyes and high-pitched buzz.

Little Flower Bee Anthophora bimaculata - Alan Keatley

Bombus - Bumblebees 

The first of the year was the hardy Buff-tailed Bumblebee B. terristris on 13th January  with records in every month of the year. The next species on the wing was, not unexpectedly, an Early Bumblebee B. pratorum on 24th February with a Tree Bumblebee B. hypnorum on 22nd March. Another spring species, Garden Bumblebee B. hortorum was noted from 29th March. 

Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum - Kevin Rylands

Fewer Red-tailed Bumblebee B. lapidarius were noted this year with the first on 4th April. Much commoner Common Carder Bee B. pascuorum were frequent from 2nd April. Flight season is over two generations until October. The only cuckoo bumblebee noted this year was Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee B. vestalis with the first on 2nd June.

Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum - Alan Keatley

Apis  -  Honey bees

Honey Bee Apis mellifera is a resourceful feral species that utilises a wide range of pollen and nectar sources starting with gorse early in the year. The first was noted on 29th March, although found until November, numbers appeared to be down this year.