Photo: Ian Alexander / CC BY-SA 4.0
Colletes hederae
Ivy Bee
A medium-sized plasterer bee (9-14 mm) with dense rust-red hairs on the thorax and brownish abdominal hair bands. It is famous for its autumnal flight period (September to November) timed to coincide with ivy (Hedera helix) flowering, on which it is strongly specialised. First described as a species in 1993, it has expanded rapidly northwards from southern Europe. In Switzerland it is now widespread in warm lowland areas. Swiss Red List: Least Concern (LC). It nests in large aggregations in bare, well-drained soil. The oil beetle Stenoria analis has caused local population declines in Switzerland.
Species Facts
- Size
- 9-14 mm
- Flight Period
- September to November
- Nesting
- Ground
- Specialization
- Ivy (Hedera helix)
- Abundance
- Uncommon
- Family
- Colletidae
External Sources
This data has been cross-referenced with national sources:
Data Source & Copyright
| Category | Source / Author | License |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Ian Alexander | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| Taxonomy & Distribution | InfoFauna Switzerland | Public data |
| Global Distribution | GBIF | CC BY 4.0 |
Data Quality
High Quality Last audit: 2026-05-22 Red List: LC
Completeness: 100%
✓Photo exists✓Traits consistent✓Description quality✓Red List referenced✓Attribution verified
Confidence: 67%
IdentifiabilityMediumImage confidenceMediumImage qualityHighTrait coherenceHigh
