WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread and frequent throughout the southern half of the UK extending North to Yorkshire and Cumbria, becoming extremely sparse further North into Scotland. Habitat includes, places with lots of Thistles and Knapweeds. such as gardens (bee hotels), parks, allotments, churchyards, woodland clearings / edges, wasteland, meadows, grassland, cliffs, fields (fence posts). Flight period: May to August. Life story: Collects pollen exclusively from members of the Asteraceae family in particular Spear Thistle and Black Knapweed, yellow-flowered species such as Ox-eye Daisy as well as daisy-type garden species including: Globe Thistles etc. Nesting occurs in holes / cavities of fence posts, walls, cliffs, dead wood, sand faces etc. Nest cells are made of chewed-up leaves. Parasites: Main host of the rare Cuckoo-bee Stelis phaeoptera, Chrysura radians.