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Wool Carder Bees
Photo: David Taylor |
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larger image
Latin name: Anthidium manicatum
Size: Wingspan approximately 20mm. Body length approx 10mm
Distribution: Found mainly in the southern half of Wales and England. Localised in other
parts of the UK.
Months seen: May to September.
Habitat: Gardens, meadows and fields
Food: Nectar
Special features: Wool carder bees are mostly black with some orange fur. The sides of the abdomen and legs have a few yellow markings.
 The males set up territories around a group of flowers, defending them when other
males come close. When a female lands on one of his flowers he flies in and mates with her.
Wool Carder bees nest in holes of woodwork, walls and stones. They can be encouraged to nest in gardens by providing tubular nest holes and growing downy
plants such as Lamb's Ears.
 The
name comes from their habit of scraping hair from leaves, which is carried in a
ball beneath their bodies and used to line their nests. They add a mixture of
pollen and nectar before laying an egg in the hole. Finally the hole is plugged
with more plant fur.
Close-up of a Wool Carder Bee
UK Safari Creepy-crawlies Section
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