The Hairy-Footed Flower Bee: An Early Pollinator

If you’ve visited Meadow Orchard this April you might have noticed a rather distinctive bee visiting our Apple blossom and Broad Beans. One of our lesser-known solitary beed is the hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes). Often mistaken for small bumblebees, these bees play an important role in early-season pollination and exhibit several fascinating biological adaptations.Continue reading “The Hairy-Footed Flower Bee: An Early Pollinator”

Lifecycle Differences: Bee v Hoverfly

Often Bees and Hoverflies can look quite similar and it can be hard to tell them apart. Hoverflies don’t have a sting and some species have even evolved to look like Bees, Wasps and Hornets! In nature where a harmless species such as a hoverfly (the mimic) resembles a dangerous species i.e. a bee (theContinue reading “Lifecycle Differences: Bee v Hoverfly”