Yellow-loosestrife bee (Macropis europaea)

This particularly fascinating and unusual bee is the only species of 'Macropis' to be found in the UK.

Its name derives from its strong preference for the Yellow Loosestrife plant(hence its name) from which the male collects pollen and the female extracts flower oils.

The female uses the oils to waterproof the nest, which is often sited in places liable to flooding such as fens, reedbeds, ditches, water edges, paths and embankments. What a wise lady!

A medium-sized bee, the female has entirely white-haired hind tibia, clearly seen in this photograph. The yellow-faced male hind legs are less hairy, but noticeably swollen. The tergites are also

This bee is found locally in the south/south east only and to a lesser extent, parts of East Anglia.