Saving the small things that run the planet
Pantaloon Bee
Fast Facts
Latin name: Dasypoda hirtipes
Notable feature: Large, fluffy hind legs in females
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Where in the UK: Southern England and Wales, not recorded in Scotland and Ireland.
Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) © Dr Will Hawkes
The Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) is a medium/large bee with a bright golden-brown thorax and stripey abdomen. Females have large, fluffy yellow hind legs which she uses to collect pollen and dig her nest burrows. Males are covered in golden hairs, some might say they resemble tiny lions.
This solitary bee likes sandy soils, specifically heathlands and coastal dunes.
- Size: 15mm
- Life span: Annual
- Diet: Strongly associated with yellow composite flowers like Cat’s-ear, ragworts and Common Fleabane.
- Reproduction: Female Pantaloon Bees build individual nests in sandy soil, often near other bees of the same species.
- When to see: Mid-June to late August.
- Population Trend: Declining.
- Threats: Habitat loss.
- Interesting Fact: Their nests are not lined with a waterproof substance, instead their pollen ball is sculpted to minimise contact with the nest walls.
Buglife is helping the recovery of populations of Pantaloon Bees and other wildlife via our projects and campaigns, including Kernow Wyls – People for Pollinators, Solitary Bee Week and B-Lines, but we need your help!
Buglife B-Lines are an imaginative and beautiful solution to the problem of the loss of flowers and pollinators. B-Lines are a series of ‘insect pathways’ running through our countryside and towns, along which we are restoring and creating a series of wildflower-rich habitat stepping stones. Linking existing wildlife areas together, creating a network, that will weave across the UK landscape. More information about B-Lines and how you can help pollinators can be found here.
Join a recording scheme and log your finds – send any records/sightings to BWARS or download the iRecord app and get recording!
Do remember that we rely on donations to continue our work. If you have searched, found and learned about our incredible invertebrates on our website, please do consider Making a Donation, Becoming a Member or maybe even making a purchase in our shop. For more ideas on how to support our work find out how to Get Involved. Thank you 🕷
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