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Hairy-footed Flower Bee · Field Guide · Things With Wings

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Hairy-footed Flower Bee

Anthophora plumipes

Not yet photographed by the community

Fast-flying bee; male has pale face; arrives in early spring.

Species Profile

Not formally listed; locally common and stable in southern UK, expanding range northwards.

Lifespan: 6–8 weeks as adults; single generation per year
Size & Weight: 12–14 mm body length
Habitat: Gardens, parks, hedgerows, and rough ground with early spring flowers, particularly where there are suitable nesting sites in soft soil or south-facing banks.
UK Distribution: Found throughout southern England, the Midlands, and Wales; range has expanded northwards in recent decades. Resident, with adults emerging in early spring (February–May).
Diet: Adults feed on nectar and pollen from early spring flowers, particularly hellebores, currants, and crocuses.
Predators: Robber flies, some parasitic wasps (Chrysididae), and occasionally taken by birds such as flycatchers.
Mating Season: February to May
Breeding: Solitary bee; females dig individual burrows in soft soil or sand and lay single eggs in sealed cells provisioned with pollen and nectar. Single brood per year; larvae develop over several months, overwintering as pupae.
Behaviour: Males are highly territorial and aggressive, patrolling and hovering around flowers to intercept females. Females are rapid, efficient foragers and capable fliers. Males exhibit a distinctive hovering flight pattern while searching for mates. The species is one of the UK's earliest-emerging solitary bees.

Sources and editorial status

The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.

Profile generated 24 June 2026

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