BTB Colletes cunicularius (Linnaeus, 1761) “Early Colletes or Spring mining bee”.
Family: Colletidae
Length Female, 11 to 12mm. Male 9.5 to 10.5mm.
Widespread over most of Western and Southern Europe, favouring coastal areas as far north as Great Britain.
Flight season: Early March to early May. (Females may still be on wing until June)
Habitat: Light Soils, sandy areas mainly in coastal areas.
Flowers visited: Will be seen extracting pollen from various early flowering plants, spring- blossoming fruit trees and shrubs.
It is a Univoltine species (Just one generation a year)
Nests are constructed in sandy loose soils, where vegetation growth is restricted. Nesting areas can be noisy, with many females nesting close together, as southern facing areas of sloping ground are favoured.
The female will dig a tunnel, slightly sloping, for about 45 to 55 centimetres into the loose soil. The deepest part of the main tunnel, will have a number of side tunnels feeding off it, leading to the brood cells. From her “Dufour’s” gland, (this gland is part of her ovipositor/sting apparatus) she will line the brood cells, with a cellophane-like substance with her short tongue, to waterproof, which develops into a protective membrane with anti-fungal qualities. This helps the bee’s larvae to have a better survival rate, against the natural elements. The congested nesting areas can be very busy, with a number of male bees, waiting to mate with a single newly emerging female; which are appropriately named, “Mating Balls”.
(Images below "BTB" male species).