29th September 2018
Autumn is the time to look out for the recently colonised Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae), which emerges to feed on ivy blossom. Some people are lucky enough to have them in their lawns, where they form mating balls as the males try to mate with newly emerged females, but more oftenly they are just seen at Ivy flowers. Although a similar size to honeybees, Ivy Bees can be identified from the noticeable bands of buff hairs running across the abdomen. I'm yet to record them from Whitlingham (there is some good looking ivy along Whitlingham Lane at both the Trowse and CP ends) but they have been seen around west and south Norwich. My first sighting of the year was whilst visiting relatives in Edingthorpe.
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