Hylaeus communis (Common Yellow Face Bee)♀︎♂︎

Pyracantha coccinea (Firethorn)

Last update: 30 November 2019
garden
species


Common

LOCATION: Krimpen aan den IJssel, garden

OBSERVATION:
2016-V-29


The common Masked bee species Common Yellow Face Bee (Hylaeus communis)[1, 2] turns out to be a frequent visitor to the garden. Besides the beehotel it is also visiting different flowers.

On Firethorn (Pyracantha spec.) a female….

Common Yellow Face Bee ♀︎ (Hylaeus communis) on Firethorn (Pyracantha spec.)
Common Yellow Face Bee ♀︎ (Hylaeus communis) on Firethorn (Pyracantha spec.)

… as well as a male were present. The male is recognizable by the pale yellow face and the brown color on the antennae underside[1].
The name Masked bee is derived from these yellow faces that most of the members in this family have.

Common Yellow Face Bee ♂︎ (Hylaeus communis) on Firethorn (Pyracantha spec.)
Common Yellow Face Bee ♂︎ (Hylaeus communis) on Firethorn (Pyracantha spec.)
Close-up Common Yellow Face Bee ♂︎ tongue

References

1 Hans Nieuwenhuijsen, Ivo Raemakers, "Tabel voor de bijen van het genus Hylaeus in Nederland", Nieuwsbrief Sectie Hymenoptera NEV – nr. 29, april 2009

2 Peeters, T.M.J., H. Nieuwenhuijsen, J. Smit, F. van der Meer, I.P. Raemakers, W.R.B. Heitmans, C. van Achterberg, M. Kwak, A.J. Loonstra, J. de Rond, M. Roos & M. Reemer 2012. De Nederlands bijen (Hymennoptera: Apidae s.l.). - Natuur van Nederland 11, Naturalis Biodiversity Center & European Invertebrate Survey - Nederland, Leiden.

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