Hairy-foots in the Garden.

At this time of the year the Barberry bush is a riot of colour and a firm favourite with bees.Today one of the many visitors to its abundant flowers was a female Hairy-footed Flower Bee Anthophora plumipes. This species is a common sight in the south of England and can readily be seen in our gardens. Hairy-footed flower bees often nest in the soft mortar of walls and sometimes in soil.
The females are black and resemble small bumblebees, with orange or yellow hairs on their hind legs.The males are rusty brown in colour and have long hairs on their legs and feet.These features can be seen below.

More Red-tailed Out and About.

Weather continues to stay warm and sunny and in my garden a good number of Red-tailed bumblebees Bombus lapidarius are on my barberry which is now in full flower.

Red-tailed Bumblebee.

Despite cool temperatures and a blustery wind today the bumblebees were still out on their business .

The Barberry was again an important stop on the pollen trail and it is a treat to see the Red-tailed,Bombus lapidarius making a regular appearance.This is one of our common species but no less handsome all in black with that orange-red rump.

The queens emerge from hibernation at this time and find a nest to lay several eggs.These eggs hatch to create the workers who then tend to the nest and young.

The Red-tailed can be found in most habitats from springtime right through to the autumn.

Garden Visitors

Along with the early flowering Hellebore we have a Barberry in our garden which is just bursting into bloom.It is a magnet for all kinds of insects,especially bees. Today's visitors to the  shrub were Honeybees Apis mellifera as well as Tree,Buff-tailed,and Red-tailed  Bumblebees

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