Melissa Bell studied the development stages of immature blue banded bees. Some of the major stages that occur before the bee becomes an adult are shown here. The immature blue banded bee spends the winter as a prepupa (see the first two photographs on the top row). Then in spring it changes into a pupa that gradually becomes darker and darker in colour. This development can be seen in the other photographs. Finally the pupa hatches into an adult that is able to fly, nest and feed in the garden.
Photographs: Melissa Bell.