A recent addition to the list of European bees, being described as new to science in 1993. Previously this bee had been misidentified as both Colletes halophilus and C. succinctus by various authors. It is very closely related to both of these species, especially C. halophilus.

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This species was formerly misidentified by British authors as H. leucomelana (Kirby, 1802) (see Yarrow, 1970).

Previously Osmia rufa (Panzer,1806). This species has gained a notorious reputation from the females' habit of excavating their nesting burrows and cells in crumbling or soft mortar joints, thereby, in time, undermining and possibly weakening the fabric of masonry. The bee also utilises existing holes. It is colloquially known as the red mortar bee or red mason bee.

At the time of year when many bee populations are declining, M. tricincta appears to be increasing, although it is generally only to be encountered around the inconspicuous flowers of red bartsia (Odontites vernus). In such situations it can be locally abundant and, as with other Melitta species, the males are usually more in evidence than the females.

The female of this species is one of the more attractive and distinctive bees which occur in Britain, the extremely long, golden pollen-collecting hairs on the hind tibiae being particularly notable. D. hirtipes is the only member of its genus which occurs in Britain.

Of the three species of Macropis which occur in western Europe, only one, M. europaea, is found in Britain. This species is unique in this country for having females which provision their nests with fatty floral oils, in addition to pollen.

A relatively recent addition to the British bee list, the first specimen having been found in West Sussex in 1984.

A rare cleptoparasitic bee which can sometimes be reared in small numbers from the stem-nests of its host, the megachiline bee Hoplitis claviventris.

Since recording began this has always been considered a rare cleptoparasitic bee, but during this century it has decreased alarmingly.