Anthidium florentinum

• Scientific name: Anthidium florentinum
• Common name: carder bee 
• Dimension: 14-20 mm
• Habitat: dry and warm areas, often even in urban environments
• Behavior: solitary
• Collective behavior: polylectic
• Nest: in various cavities above the ground
• Parasitized by: Stelis punctulatissima
• Red list of bees in Switzerland: not endangered

Interesting Facts:

Carder bees get their name from the fact that they use plant hair, such as that of verbena, to build their nests. Males of the Anthidium genus have spiny appendages on their abdomen, which they use to chase other insects away from their territory, usually located near sources of pollen.