Wight Bumblees: May 2015

Wednesday 6 May 2015

Andrena carantonica.

This mining bee is seen from March to June and although it seems to have no common name it can be described as one of the larger mining bees.The bee is also known as Andrena scotica.The photo below of a female, does not confirm that this individual is an A.carantonica,however it would seem likely.

Andrena carantonica is one of the most common Andrena species in the UK, where it nests in sandy soils usually near to pathways.This is because they do not like to have their nests obstructed by overgrowing plants.There is one communal entrance used by the females that divides underground into separate chambers for each bee.

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In the UK there are twenty four species of bumblebee but only eight are commonly found in most places.Bumblebees occupy a variety of habitats and most of us should be able to attract them to our gardens if we have the right kinds of flowering plants.

On the Isle of Wight eleven species have been recorded including the eight ommon ones which are Tree,Garden,Heath,Red-tailed,White-tailed,Common Carder,Early,and Buff-tailed.There are also records of three much less encountered species,the Field Cuckoo,the Vestal Cuckoo, and the Hill Cuckoo.

These latter three are parasitic bumblebees that lay their eggs in other species nests and then kill the resident queen.The occupants of the nest then rear the cuckoos' offspring unaware that it is not their own species.

There are over two hundred species of solitary bee in the UK and most can be very difficult to tell apart.

They are so named because they do not live in colonies, unlike bumblebees and honeybees.Their nests range from hollow plant stems to holes in cliffs,walls,and in the ground.

All solitary bees are first class pollinators and should be made welcome in our gardens.

Title Photo

Wednesday 6 May 2015

Andrena carantonica.