[2] The species is 6–10 mm in size, the hairs of the male are long and dense, those of the female short and tight.

From Spain, southern and eastern Europe, Ukraine and southern Russia to Bashkiria and across Asia Minor and the Caucasus to western Turkmenistan and western Kazakhstan; northward to Eastern Austria and Slovakia, south to Lazio, Crete and the south coast of Turkey.

[4] Camptopoeum friesei occurs in salt steppes from the lowlands to the colline altitude level.

Camptopoeum friesei is oligolectic on Asteraceae of the subfamily Carduoideae, mainly Centaurea and Carduus.

Camptopoeum friesei is being parasited by the cuckoo bee Parammobatodes schmidti.