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Photo#60018
Anthidium manicatum - female

Anthidium manicatum - Female
Cross Plains, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA
June 26, 2006
These large bees (I assume they are bees)spend a lot of time around the lamb's-ear flowers. I have also seen one of the bees scraping off fur from the lamb's ear leaf and collecting it in a ball to carry away. Does anyone know the name of this insect? The bees hover in place and then move very fast to another location and they make quite a loud buzz when flying. They are also very aggressive towards each other.

Images of this individual: tag all
Anthidium manicatum - female Anthidium manicatum - Wool Carder Bee - Anthidium manicatum - female

It is an Anthidium bee. Big g
It is an Anthidium bee. Big genus with many species...

 
A. manicatum female.
This is most likely Anthidium manicatum, the introduced species that is now the most-often seen member of the genus, at least in the northeast U.S. This one is a female, as you can see she is collecting pollen in the scopa on her tummy:-)

 
This is also the most-often seen Anthidium
in Colorado Springs (actually the only one seen Anthidium so far). Look for Lamb's Ear or other blue flowers in city parks and you will find them.