Sea-aster and Ivy bees at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

At Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, there are two quite similar species of 'autumn colletes' active at the moment, Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) and Sea-aster Bee (Colletes halophilus), also known as the saltmarsh bee. 

Ivy Bee (above) is the larger of the two, with reddish hair on the thorax and broad buff bands on the abdomen, while Sea-aster Bee (below) is smaller with browner thoracic hairs and narrower, paler abdominal stripes. 

The best way to separate them however is the plant they are feeding on (the clue is in the name), though I have seen Ivy Bees at least feeding on other species and Sea-aster Bee does apparently use other plants.

Did you know that 'bike' is an alternative collective noun for bees? Along with 'grist', 'erst' and 'rabble'! Thanks to former Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Warden Chris Bentley for that information.