Physical Appearance

Both males and females have fuzzy, grey or buff colored hairs on thorax, with a darker, often banded abdomen.

The female carries pollen in a brush of specialized hairs, called a scopa, on each hind leg. The scopae on Anthophora species is quite dense, making their hind legs noticeably hairy.

Characteristics

Anthophora are very fast flyers and are able to hover before landing on a flower.

They typically have very long tongues allowing them to obtain nectar from, and in the process pollinate, deep, tubular flowers. Anthophora species are generalists, however, and will visit a wide variety of flowers for pollen and nectar.

Anthophora females are able to buzz-pollinate the flowers of certain plants. The female grasps the flower while rapidly vibrating her flight muscles to release a burst of pollen from deep pores in the anthers.

Size: Small to medium sized, robust bee, 1/4 to 1 inch in length.