Check the blooms of grape hyacinths, lungwort, primroses, honeywort or small narcissus, like ‘Minnow’, for hairy-footed flower bees, which are among the first to emerge in spring. This gorgeous solitary bee looks like a bumblebee but has the darting, impatient flight of a hoverfly. The gingery males have pale hairs on their faces, like a moustache. You may see one chasing a rival male or trying to pounce on a female.
Unlike the male, the female is black all over but for her large, hairy, orange ‘feet’, which she uses to collect pollen. She’ll nest in varied locations, including the ground, but also high up in soft cob walls and loose masonry. Chimneys are a popular choice and sometimes the newly hatched bees will fall down the chimney into people’s…
