# Hairy-footed Flower Bee (*Anthophora plumipes*) The Hairy-footed Flower Bee is a fuzzy little bee that loves to visit flowers. They are great at helping plants grow by spreading pollen while they collect nectar. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Hairy-footed Flower Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Anthophora_plumipes_%2852849456034%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gilles San Martin from Namur, Belgium, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anthophora_plumipes_%2852849456034%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Hairy-footed Flower Bee is a large, bumblebee-like bee. Females are mostly black with striking orange-red hairs on their hind legs, while males have yellowish-brown fur and distinctive long, pale, hairy forelegs. Both have a characteristically fast, darting flight. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Anthophora ## Interesting facts - Even though they look chunky, these bees are super agile fliers, zipping around flowers at top speed. - Hairy-footed Flower Bees love flowers with long, tubular shapes because their tongues are extra long! - Male Hairy-footed Flower Bees have extra-long, tufted forelegs that they wave to attract females! - These solitary bees don't live in hives; instead, each female builds her own nest in the ground. ## Special abilities - **Pollen Power Pockets:** Hairy-footed Flower Bee has super hairy hind legs that help them carry large amounts of pollen back to their nests. - **Buzz Pollination Blast:** Hairy-footed Flower Bee can vibrate flowers at a specific frequency to release hidden pollen, like a tiny sonic boom! - **Early Bird Advantage:** Hairy-footed Flower Bee can emerge early in spring, giving them first access to fresh flowers and resources. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-28 mm - **Size:** 12-16 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-40 days - **Flight Speed:** 18 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This bee drinks flower nectar for energy and collects pollen to feed its young. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Comfrey, Lungwort, Dead-nettle - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Comfrey (*Symphytum officinale*) — Main source of nectar and pollen for adults. - **Pollinates:** White Dead-nettle (*Lamium album*) — An important early spring flower for food. - **Parasitizes:** Mourning Bee (*Melecta luctuosa*) — A cuckoo bee that lays its eggs in their nests. - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Birds can sometimes prey on foraging bees. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [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. - [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 Be gentle and quiet around bees; they are friendly and help flowers grow! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hairy-footed 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 Hairy-footed Flower Bee's wingspan? 20-28 mm ### How big is Hairy-footed Flower Bee? 12-16 mm ### How long does Hairy-footed Flower Bee live? 20-40 days ### How fast can Hairy-footed Flower Bee fly? 18 km/h ### What does Hairy-footed Flower Bee eat? This bee drinks flower nectar for energy and collects pollen to feed its young. ### Where is Hairy-footed Flower Bee usually found? Urban areas ### How does Hairy-footed 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: [Hairy-footed Flower Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-footed-flower-bee)