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Yellow-loosestrife Bee Macropis europaea

The Yellow-loosestrife Bee is a distinct, short bee measuring 8 to 9 mm. It is hairless except for rows of small white hairs at the edges of the segments and long hairs on the hind leg. The hairs are white on the tibia and black on the metatarsus. This makes the females easy to recognize. However in many cases you do not see much of the hairs, for they are often fully covered in pollen. Adult bees are seen in June, July and August.

This species is bound to loosestrife, especially Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris). The relation with this plant is complicated, for not only is the pollen collected, but also the oily substance this plant produces. A mixture of this is used to feed the larvae. But loosestrife doesn't produce nectar, so the bees visit other flowers to feed themselves. This is the only bee species in our region which is found in rather moist conditions: in fens and bogs and alongside rivers and canals. In Britain it is the only member of its genus present. On the continent there are two more species. In Britain there is no cuckoo bee parasiting on this species, on the continent it is sought after by Epeoloides coecutiens.

Quite a common species all over Britain, but only if the host plant is present. Does also turn up in gardens where is visits the Dotted Loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata). This happens irregularly, for the bee does prefer the Yellow Loosestrife.

The Yellow-loostrife Bee is scientifically also known as Macropis labiata.