An autumnal bee – the Ivy Bee, Colletes hederae.
by Lewis, 15 November, 2016, 0 comments
At this time of year, it is unusual to see bees flying around, but one that you might see is the ivy bee; the ivy bee is a ‘new bee’. It was first described as a distinct species in 1993. It was present in the Channel Isles, back in the 1970's (where it is abundant) but was not recognised as a separate species. In the U.K., it was first reported from Dorset (at Worth Matravers) in 2001.
It has since been found in a number of places along the South Coast – from Kent to Cornwall, and in Wiltshire, Somerset, Surrey and Essex. It is spreading northwards, and reached the north Norfolk coast (in 2014) and Shropshire; it has been suggested that the presence of the ivy bee here is another aspect of climate change. A map of the areas where this bee is likely to be seen can be found here. Read more...
