Was walking through the library gardens nature reserve during today's glorious spring weather, when I noticed a very dark bee feeding off dandelion.
While I was photographing it, I knew it was a species I was unfamiliar with, and a long walk and some research later, I was able to identify it as a female common mourning bee and indeed this is a new species to me. The female is entirely black, with only a few pale patches of hairs on the abdomen and the legs.
We are at the north edge of its UK range here, and it is a parasite, or cuckoo bee. It parasitizes the nests of hairy footed flower bees, which explains its presence in this little nature reserve, which is full of hairy footed flower bees whizzing about.
It was a fine start to a fine day out in the sun, seeing what local nature I can find.
Si
All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 31.03.26
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