Anthophora plumipes (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) as a pollinator of broad bean (Vicia faba major)

SUMMARYThe solitary bee, Anthophora plumipes, was observed to visit flowers of autumn-sown broad beans (Vicia faba major) positively and in greater numbers than Bombus hortorum, B. pas- cuorum or Apis mellifera. There were also more flowers visited per minute by each Anthophora plumipes insect than by each B. pascuorum. If this were to be confirmed by further observations it may be concluded that solitary bees are of greater economic importance than previously supposed.