# Green-eyed Flower Bee (*Anthophora bimaculata*) The Green-eyed Flower Bee is a small, fuzzy bee with bright green eyes! They love to visit flowers to collect nectar and help plants grow by spreading pollen. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Green-eyed Flower Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Anthophora_bimaculata.jpg&width=800) Photo: Álvaro Muncharaz Echevarría, GPL · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anthophora_bimaculata.jpg) ## Appearance The Green-eyed Flower Bee is a small, hairy bee, typically dark-bodied with subtle pale yellow or whitish bands on its abdomen. Its most striking feature, especially in males, is its bright, iridescent green eyes, which stand out against its dark head. This distinguishes it from many other brown or black bees. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Anthophora ## Interesting facts - Did you know this bee doesn't live in a big hive, but builds tiny homes all by itself! - Its amazing green eyes glow extra bright on males, helping them find their bee-mates! - These busy bees often make their cozy nests by digging tunnels underground. - Watch closely! This bee can hover perfectly still in the air before landing on a flower. ## Special abilities - **Swift Flight:** Green-eyed Flower Bee can dart and hover with incredible agility because of its powerful wings, allowing them to quickly move between blossoms. - **Pollen Power-Up:** Green-eyed Flower Bee can efficiently collect pollen using specialized fuzzy hairs on their legs, which helps them carry vital nutrients back to their nests. - **Deep Nectar Drinker:** Green-eyed Flower Bee has a long tongue (proboscis) that helps them reach sweet nectar deep inside tubular flowers, often inaccessible to other insects. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 15-20 mm - **Size:** 8-10 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Sips sweet flower nectar for energy and gathers protein-rich pollen for its young. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, pollen, Lamium purpureum pollen, Veronica chamaedrys nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Red Dead-nettle (*Lamium purpureum*) — Provides early spring nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Germander Speedwell](https://www.snappit.app/explore/germander-speedwell) (*Veronica chamaedrys*) — An important source of nectar in gardens. - **Eaten by:** [European Bee-eater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-bee-eater) (*Merops apiaster*) — A colorful bird that preys on various flying insects. - **Parasitizes:** Thick-headed Fly (*Physocephala rufipes*) — Its larvae develop inside the bee's body. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Bees are usually friendly, but it's best to stay calm and not swat at them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Green-eyed Flower Bee? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Green-eyed Flower Bee's wingspan? 15-20 mm ### How big is Green-eyed Flower Bee? 8-10 mm ### How long does Green-eyed Flower Bee live? 20-60 days ### How fast can Green-eyed Flower Bee fly? 15 km/h ### What does Green-eyed Flower Bee eat? Sips sweet flower nectar for energy and gathers protein-rich pollen for its young. ### Where is Green-eyed Flower Bee usually found? Urban areas ### How does Green-eyed Flower Bee hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Green-eyed Flower Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-eyed-flower-bee)