Buzzzzzzz!!!!!

There was definitely a buzz in the garden today. The usual Anthophora plumipes males were now joined by the first female of the year (above), feeding on the Pulmonaria. The Pulmonaria, unfortunately, was in the shade, so I couldn't take as sharp photos as I would have liked. A male Osmia bicornis (previously rufa) was patrolling the grape Hyacinths and a female Andrena fulva made a brief appearance. Just on cue, as the Cherry, a favourite of this bee, started to bloom yesterday.
 A Green Shieldbug was out sunbathing, also the first of the year. Many young wolf spiders were out too in the sun, stalked by my young cat, who likes to hunt and eat them, to my dismay. A Peacock butterfly passed by, but didn't settle.

Unidentified Andrena sp. on a dandelion.

Male Osmia bicornis

Male Anthophora plumipes.

Green shieldbug

Flea beetle, Altica sp.

Dandelion bugs

 The verges around the streets have started to be brightened by the sunny faces of dandelions. Much hated by gardeners as the epitome of "weeds", I very rarely pull them in the garden, I just love their intense yellow and the fascination they exert on so many different bugs. As dandelions also start to bloom relatively early, they are an important source of nectar and pollen for many insects. And if you wait, by May you'll have lovely clocks for kids to blow. Leave them be and enjoy them!
 And now a gallery of dandelion bugs if you needed any more convincing. First bees, and not only honeybees...

... but many species of bumblebees and solitary bees...

Emerging Queen bumblebees often feed on them: a the red tailed bumblebee Bombus lapidarius

and this Buff tailed bumblebee queen Bombus terrestris

A poor photo showing two bee species, the cleptoparasite Melecta albifrons and an early bumblebee queen Bombus pratorum.

Other early spring solitary bees can often be seen having a dandelion pollen bath

An unidentified solitary bee

A couple of Red Mason Bees.

And butterflies too...

A long distance shot of a Brimstone,

a Green-Veined White,

And Small Tortoiseshells too.

And last, but not least, many hoverflies use dandelions too

The narcissus fly, Merodon equestris, mating

 Episyrphus balteatus often meet on dandelion flower heads

 Two hoverfly species, a Helophilus pendulus and a Sphaerophoria sp.

I am sure I have missed many more. But not only insects, but also goldfinches enjoy dandelions. Here one feeding on white seeds on my doorstep.