European Wool-carder Bee
Anthidium manicatum
This record describes Anthidium manicatum (species). Recorded family: Megachilidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Wikipedia reference for Anthidium manicatum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthidium_manicatum.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Megachilidae (Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies)
- Subfamily
- Megachilinae
- Tribe
- Anthidiini
- Genus
- Anthidium (Woolcarder Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Gardens and flowerbeds.
Seasonal Activity
Single-brooded from late May to early August, with a peak from June to July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Males are highly territorial and aggressive against other males of this species, as well as other visitors to the flowers in its territory. They get the name 'carder' from their behaviour of scraping hair from the leaves of 'woolly' leaved plants such as Lamb's-ear and Mullein species.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely distributed throughout much of southern England and Wales, becoming scarcer in the north.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Anthidium manicatum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of European Wool-carder Bee (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About European Wool-carder Bee
How big is European Wool-carder Bee?
11mm to 17mm (0.43" to 0.66")
Where is European Wool-carder Bee found?
Habitat: Gardens and flowerbeds.
When is European Wool-carder Bee active?
European Wool-carder Bee: seasonal activity - Single-brooded from late May to early August, with a peak from June to July..
What is the life cycle of a European Wool-carder Bee?
Males are highly territorial and aggressive against other males of this species, as well as other visitors to the flowers in its territory. They get the name 'carder' from their behaviour of scraping hair from the leaves of 'woolly' leaved plants such as Lamb's-ear and Mullein species.