Colletes hederae

Habitat: Clay-sandy areas, near ivy

Size: 10-13mm

Species Account: A recent addition to the British apifauna, this species was not even described as separate from the morphologically similar Colletes succinctus until 1993. Females are large and bright, with the colour of the first few bands on the abdomen matching that of the hair on the thorax. Females feed exclusively from ivy flowers, and large aggregations may form on stands of ivy. This is the latest flying Colletes species, being on the wing from late September through October. Currently restricted to the south coast, the species is spreading northwards fast and is the subject of a survey by BWARS.

Female

Male