Species Focus - Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes)

Pantaloon Bees (Dasypoda hirtipes) have a very coastal distribution in North Wales and have only been recorded along the north Cardigan Bay coast. The female is highly distinctive with yellow, thickly hairy rear legs.

Although the male Pantaloon Bee, like this one photographed by Kevin Hitch in Pwllheli, lacks the impressively furry legs, it has a striped abdomen and is covered in hair.

This solitary bee species digs deep burrows in flat sandy soil where it rears its young. Adults can be observed between late June and early September. We have fewer than 50 records of this species in the Cofnod database, so look out for this bee on your next walk along the coast.

Please submit your records, ideally with photos, to the Cofnod ORS or the LERC Wales App.