“BTB” Eucera longicornis, (Linnaeus, 1758). Long-horned Bee.
Family: Apidae
Body length: 12 to 16mm
Flight season: Early May to July. Females can be on the wing late into the summer months.
(Images below, were taken in the month of February)
The male is obviously the namesake for this species, because of the length of his antennae.
There are many similar species, of the Long-horned Bee. Eucera longicornis appearance also varies with age, the brown hairs on the thorax fade, to a lighter grey eventually; also the sunlight has a lot to do with this, especially in Spain. So not 100% sure on the identity of the images below, because of this and for the added reason that these images were taken in February, supposing out of its flight season.
A widespread species ranging from Western Europe to as far east as Siberia and China.
The long-horned Bee is found over most of Europe, although populations seem to be declining in many countries; it is now considered scarce as far north as Britain.
Habitat: Is various, open areas, such as dry unkept meadows, coastal cliffs, grasslands and dunes, also woodland clearings; mainly where-ever sites are rich with legumes (members of the pea family).
Feeding: Will feed on a wide variety of flowers but have a preference for the pea family plants.
Nesting: In sparsely vegetated eroded soils, preferring south facing, slopes and cliffs. Males will sometimes be seen swarming in small groups over nesting sites waiting for a female to emerge.
Nest sites usually occur in aggregations, the female burrows into the soil, she will provision the nest with a food paste, which is a mixture of honey and pollen, to feed her newly hatched larvae.
In the Mediterranean region the male is a pollinator of the “Bee orchid, Ophrys apifera”.
The male Eucera longicornis, is attracted to the scent of the flowers of the plant, (the flowers emit allomones). The labellum of the flower acting as a copulatory, this confuses the bee, into thinking the flowers are female bees. Pollen is then transferred during the bee’s courtship.
The very rare bee, Nomada sexfasciata is a cleptoparasite.
Images below, shows both male and female.