| Re: Mediteranian Bee sighting in the uk
Lizzy has seen the bees and confirmed that they are Xylocopa. Lizzy was unable to catch one for close scrutiny or get close enough to see the antennae for herself. She will be returning in April for another look, accompanied by another Leicester BWARS member.
However, I have looked long and hard at the pics (number 2 is easily the clearest) and so has Nigel Jones, and we are satisfied that the preapical antennal segments (11-12) are reddish (and therefore paler) than the rest of the antenna. This marks the specimen that is in the pic as a male X. violacea. Both Nigel and I have considerable experience of the species (I have seen thousands, literally), and we are quite happy that this determination is sound.
Stuart |