Green-eyed Flower bee (Anthophora bimaculata)

One of five 'Anthrophora' species in the UK, with one, the 'Hairy-footed Flower bee' (Anthophora plumipes) considerably more widespread, numerous and well-known than the other four.

A. bimaculata is the smallest of the five and is a hard-working, busy little solitary bee, which produces a distinctively shrill 'buzz' in flight.

It's restricted to the south of the UK, flying June - September and prefers heathlands, coastal dunes, soft-rock cliffs & sandpits/sandy brownfield habitats.

A 'polylectic' visitor of a wide selection of flowers, Peas & Astors, Viper's Bugloss, brambles, lamiates, Asteraceae sea bindweed and Spear thistle, among many others.

And of course, it's called the 'Green-eyed Flower bee' because, you've probably already guessed it...........both sexes have a predominently yellow face! :-)