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.

Sun Shines and Another Springtime Bee.

A look at the Hairy-footed Flower Bee Anthophora plumipes today as the sun came out for the first time in days.This male was seen in my garden feeding on the perennial wallflower 'bowles mauve'.

A Hairy Foot on the Rosemary.

Our flowering Rosemary is proving quite an attraction for various bees now and this afternoon it received a lot of attention from a male Hairy-footed Flower Bee,Anthophora plumipes.

This species of bee is common in the south of England with the male usually appearing before the female in February or March.

A Sure Sign of Spring.

At last the spring weather has arrived with a warm and sunny day and the prospect of it continuing for a while yet.

A sure sign of spring was my first sighting of a Hairy-footed Flower Bee,Anthophora plumipes in my garden.The flowers are now bursting into bloom and this species will be seen hovering around the plants taking nectar. Anthophora plumipes should be with us in the south of England until mid June.

A Male Anthophora plumipes.

Despite the cloudy damp weather this morning the drift of Bugle flowers outside my back door attracted my first sighting of  a male Hairy-footed Flower Bee Anthophora plumipes.

Hairy-footed Flower Bee.

There is an extensive drift of Bugle flowers in my garden and is very popular with the bees.Among the visitors are several Hairy-footed(or furry-footed) Flower Bees,Anthophora plumipes.

Although not a true bumblebee it is about the size of a small bumble.The males are rather gingery in colour whereas the females are black with yellowish hind legs.They tend to be very fast flyers.