Chelostoma florisomne

This is another specialist bee : it specialises on Ranunculus species and needs old wood with holes as nesting site. Although the plants are quite abnudant overhere , the bee is not that commonly found . On one season, which includes many photographic inventory visits I encounter about 3 to 5 of them only... They are found easiest in nature reserve along the channel at Maria - Aalter. I expect the absence of dead dry wood that is southernly exposed (for nesting) might be part of the problem.