Ivy Mining Bee

PeterD-2009

I found these a couple of days ago. The bees have only recently (2003) been known to science. They were found in southern Europe and, since then, been recorded at various sites including southern England. It just goes to show that new discoveries are not only in the remote regions of the world.

The adult bees appear in September when the Ivy (their sole foodplant) is in flower. They mate and the females look for sandy, south facing soil banks. They are seen creating burrows within which they create chambers and lay a single egg within each. They then stock the burrow with pollen from the ivy flowers and seal off the burrows. The adults all die, end October beginning November.

It is perhaps this brief appearance as an adult that prevented recognition until recently. More information can be found here.

These images show females creating their burrows.










Hope you like these.

Lord Vetinari

Lovely captures and good info
Brian v.

PeterD-2009

Lord Vetinari wrote: »

Lovely captures and good info
Brian v.

Thank you Brian

leilanimr

Very informative series and great captures too!

PeterD-2009

leilanimr wrote: »

Very informative series and great captures too!

Thank you Leilani for your kind comments

GOLDENORFE

good looking bee, how long before they arrive up here in chashire?

PeterD-2009

GOLDENORFE wrote: »

good looking bee, how long before they arrive up here in chashire?

Hi Phil, thanks for your reply.

These bees are currently confined to the south although I understand that sightings have increased with a tendancy to spread further north. Look for south facing sandy soil near to ivy. The female bees tend to congregate and dig their burrows quite close to each other.

Best of luck.