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Little Blue Carpenter Bee

Ceratina cyanea

Basic Information

Common name: Little Blue Carpenter Bee
Scientific name: Ceratina cyanea

Metallic blue, teardrop-shaped abdomen.

Like roses in sunshine.

Classification

Bee TypeSolitary
StatusLess Common
Cuckoo StatusNon-cuckoo
DistributionLocalised
Tail ColourBlack Tail

Keynotes

  • Very smooth, may carry pollen internally

  • Use mandibles to excavate wood

  • Females live up to 18 months and look after developing eggs

  • Very small and difficult to find

  • The only British Ceratina bee

Nest Information

  • Dead wood, hollow twigs and stems close to ground

  • Uses pith from sticks

  • Overwinter in the twigs

  • May - September

Distribution

  • Southeast England, moving northwards

  • Habitat: warm, dry areas, bramble and rose patches, downs, heaths, brownfield, open woods

Castes

MALE

May
No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Dark blue, cream patch

  2. Dark blue, shiny

  3. Dark blue, shiny

  4. Dark blue, teardrop shape

Tail:Black Tail
Thorax:All Black
Abdomen:All Black
Head:Black Head

FEMALE

May
No Diagram
No Photo

  1. Dark blue, shiny

  2. Dark blue. shiny

  3. Dark blue, shiny

  4. Dark blue, teardrop shape

Tail:Black Tail
Thorax:All Black
Abdomen:All Black
Head:Black Head

Flower Preferences

Long tongue. Visit a range of flower shapes.

  • fairy flax

  • cornflower

  • buttercups

  • germander

  • speedwell

  • sheep's-bit

🌼

Brambles

Dandelion

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

🌼

Roses