Sainfoin Bee - Melitta dimidiata, Salisbury Plain

The Sainfoin Bee - Melitta dimidiata is a rare bee found only on Salisbury Plain where it collects pollen exclusively from wild Sainfoin - Onobrychis viciifolia. I visited mid June and saw lots of males but only a single female as it was still a bit early for them. 

 

Habitat of Sainfoin Bee at Tilshead

 MALES 

FEMALE

 

OTHER BEES AND INVERTS

Male Sainfoin Bee and Red-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus lapidarius

Common Carder Bee - Bombus pascuorum & Burnet Companion Moth - Euclidia glyphica

Spined Mason Bee - Osmia spinulosa

Male Buffish Mining Bee - Andrena nigroaenea 

Male Yellow-legged Mining Bee - Andrena flavipes

Slender-footed Robberfly - Leptarthrus brevirostris
 

Green Hairstreak caterpillar - Callophrys rubi

Yellow Loosestife Bee - Macropis europea on the Exeter Canal

Yellow Loosestrife Bee - Macropis europea photographed and filmed on the Exeter Canal on 3rd July 2025. This is a scarce and very specialised Bee which solely uses Yellow Loosestrife - Lysimachia vulgaris from which the female collects both pollen and floral oils, the flowers don't produce nectar and so the bees get this from other plants. The female also collects the floral oils to waterproof her nest which can then survive inundation in marshy areas. 

MALES

FEMALES

MALE & FEMALE

 

Bellflower Blunthorn Bee ( Melitta haemorrhoidalis)

Bellflower Blunthorn Bee - Melitta haemorroidalis on Nettle-leaved Bellflower - Campanula trachelium, Purbeck Dorset, 29th June 2025. 

MALES

FEMALES