Bug FAQTawny Nesocolletes
Leioproctus fulvescens · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Colletidae
Adult Tawny Nesocolletes are about 10 mm long and covered densely in yellow-orange hair. They nest underground in many dry, sunny soils and forage up to 2 km for pollen and nectar.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure roughly 10 mm (0.39 in) in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They build underground nests in a wide range of dry soils such as beach sand, river banks, clay, garden soil and compacted shingle, preferring sunny, low-moisture sites free of vegetation.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Females visit flowers for pollen and nectar, collecting pollen on a scopa on the hind tibia. If flowers are scarce they can travel up to 2 km from their nest to forage.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are mainly on the wing from November to March, though some have been seen as early as September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
This bee is endemic to New Zealand’s South Island.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When are Tawny Nesocolletes active?
They are most commonly seen between November and March, with occasional sightings as early as September.
Source: Wikipedia
What do these bees look like?
They are about 10 mm long and have dense yellow-orange hair, unlike other New Zealand Leioproctus species that have white or cream hairs.
Source: Wikipedia
Where do they nest?
They nest underground in dry, sunny soils such as beach sand, river banks, clay, garden soil and compacted shingle, avoiding vegetation and moisture.
Source: Wikipedia
What do they eat?
Females collect pollen and nectar from flowers, using a scopa on their hind tibia, and can travel up to 2 km to find food.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Colletidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leioproctus_fulvescens
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Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.