Hairy-footed Flower Bee

Anthophora plumipes

This record describes Anthophora plumipes (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Hairy-footed Flower Bee - Anthophora plumipes

The male has long hairs on the lower parts of the middle legs, especially near the feet. Males and females are very different, with the male being orange and the female all-black. Confusion with other species is not likely in early spring as no common bumblebee is entirely black nor are the brown bumblebees generally as richly coloured as the male Anthophora . This species is able to hover well. Gardens, parks etc. visiting tubular flowers such as Lungwort and Red Dead-nettle. Nests in the ground and in the soft mortar of walls. Although found throughout Britain, records are very heavily concentrated in the south.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Anthophora

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Habitat

Gardens, parks etc. visiting tubular flowers such as Lungwort and Red Dead-nettle.

Seasonal Activity

March to May.

Diet and Behavior

Life History

Nests in the ground and in the soft mortar of walls.

Additional species information

Recorded status

Although found throughout Britain, records are very heavily concentrated in the south.

About Flies: the wider group

Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Anthophora plumipes. 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.

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