Community identification
European Woolcarder Bee (Nest wool and eggs)
Anthidium manicatum
- Order & Family
- Hymenoptera, Megachilidae
- Size
- Adults range from 11 to 17 mm; egg and wool clusters are several centimeters
Natural Habitat
Gardens, meadows, and urban areas containing fuzzy-leaved plants like Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on nectar and pollen; larvae consume a pollen/nectar loaf provided in the nest
Behavior Patterns
Females scrape hair from fuzzy plants to line nests in cavities. Males are highly territorial and will chase or strike other insects away from flower patches.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem as an effective pollinator; however, it can be aggressive towards native bees and the females can strip garden foliage.