Macropis europaea

Like other bees in its genus, the male has yellow markings, which help separate Macropis from related bees.

As in other Macropis bees, females have velvety hairs on their front legs that are adapted for collecting oil.

It ranges across Europe from southern Fennoscandia south to central Spain, and east as far as Kazakhstan.

In Britain it is found only in southern England, from Devon to Kent and north to Somerset and Norfolk.

It lives at wetland sites where its main food plant, yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris), grows.

In a study of populations across Europe, Turkey and Georgia, most of the sampled populations were in open, damp habitats such as swamps and wet fields.

It has one generation a year, flying from mid July to early September, closely in step with the flowering of its host plant.

Females dig their nest burrows in the soil, usually in banks or slopes.

The brood cells are lined with a yellowish, wax-like substance that keeps out water.

Females stock their nests with fatty oils produced by flowers, in addition to pollen.

Yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris) appears to be its main source of floral oil.

Whether it ever uses other oil-producing plants is unresolved: researchers have found no convincing evidence that it does.

In mainland Europe the cuckoo bee Epeoloides coecutiens lays its eggs in this bee's nests, but it is not known from Britain.

In Britain it was listed as Rare in 1987 and as Nationally Notable in 1991, though recording work suggested its status should be reviewed.