During July last year I made a couple of visits to The Maer in Exmouth to look for solitary bees and other inverts. It's an ideal spot for me as I only have to walk a few steps from the car to be ensconced among the dunes with only the wildlife for company. Apart from the odd couple of folks cutting through on their way to the beach it's extremely peaceful, even though, said beach is only a few metres away. Unfortunately no habitat shots again, but the following are the species I captured.
Silvery Leafcutter Bee - Megachile leachella
They nest in dense aggregations in the dunes. Males (above) have conspicuous bright green eyes.The females can be seen carrying rolled pieces of leaf and often land, seemingly to rest. Sometimes whilst resting they are accosted by a male and are forced to drop their leaf cutting in the ensuing tussle. They then appear to abandon this piece, as I watched for a good while and the dropped pieces were never retrieved. They must have to go and cut a fresh one. Exhausting work I'm sure!
Female about to be accosted by a male.
Coast Leafcutter Bee - Megachile maritima
Female excavating her nest.
Pantaloon Bee - Dasypoda hirtipes
Males
Females
Large Sharp-tail Bee - Coelioxyis conoidia
These were the first Sharp-tail Bees I've ever seen. I was lucky enough to see both male and female. They are a parasitic bee the host species being the Coast Leafcutter Bee.
Males
Females
Other Inverts
Bee Wolf - Philanthus triangulum. With male Pantaloon Bee (above)
Dune Villa - Villa modesta
Dune Robberfly - Philonicus albiceps
Coastal Silver Stiletto - Acrosathe annulata
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