Unidentified Bee and Grasshopper

[GuyF]

Hi everyone,
I found this Bee and this Grasshopper at Hartland Moor today, which is a Dorset heathland.
The Bee I think might be Bombus muscorum (Eucera mentioned that it was present at this site), I can't see any black hairs on the abdomen.


And next is this grasshopper, which I'm hoping is a Heath Grasshopper but I can't decide whether the black is touching the back edge of the pronotum.

Thanks for any help,
Guy

[aeshna5]

The grasshopper is a Mottled Grasshopper. You could be right about the Bombus, but I'm not 100% certain.

[GuyF]

Thanks Aeshna, shame it's not a Heath Grasshopper, I'll find one soon! Here's a shot of another grasshopper from today, is this also a Mottled Grasshopper?

Guy

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by GuyF

Thanks Aeshna, shame it's not a Heath Grasshopper, I'll find one soon! Here's a shot of another grasshopper from today, is this also a Mottled Grasshopper?

Guy

I would say it's another Mottled. Though I can't guage size from photo (Mottled are small compared with most species) this photo shows the thickened ends to the antennae which is a feature of Mottled. Good luck in your quest for Heath Grasshopper!

[GRH]

Your bumblebee has black hairs on the thorax (scattered around the wing bases), which, from this location, should rule out Bombus muscorum. The hairs on the thorax are rather uneven in length as well (muscorum is described as having a 'crew cut'). I can't see any black hairs on the abdomen either. This suggests it is Bombus humilis. I'm not an expert, but experts seem to disagree as to whether-or-not you can reliably identify this species in the field. See what Eucera (an expert) thinks.

Greg

[GuyF]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I would say it's another Mottled. Though I can't guage size from photo (Mottled are small compared with most species) this photo shows the thickened ends to the antennae which is a feature of Mottled. Good luck in your quest for Heath Grasshopper!

Thanks for the id aeshna, this grasshopper was very small, I suppose I'll have to keep looking for Heath Grasshoppers. Atleast I found a Large Marsh Grasshopper yesterday which is new for me
Thanks
Guy

[GuyF]

Originally Posted by GRH

Your bumblebee has black hairs on the thorax (scattered around the wing bases), which, from this location, should rule out Bombus muscorum. The hairs on the thorax are rather uneven in length as well (muscorum is described as having a 'crew cut'). I can't see any black hairs on the abdomen either. This suggests it is Bombus humilis. I'm not an expert, but experts seem to disagree as to whether-or-not you can reliably identify this species in the field. See what Eucera (an expert) thinks.

Greg

Sorry, I got my information wrong, I've just checked back and it was Bombus humilis which Eucera said can be found at this site, so you're id is probably correct.
Thanks very much for the information Greg,
Guy

[eucera]

Bombus humilis is pretty plentiful on Hartland Moor and I would be surprised if this was not humilis. Genuine B. muscorum records from southern England are now very rare, although I did see some specimens on the Pevensey Levels today, where it co-occurs with B. humilis

[GuyF]

Thanks Eucera, it's always nice to see something rare.
Here's another bee that I'd be interested in finding an id for. This one was found in West Scotland (Argyll), I was wondering whether this one might be Bombus muscorum?
sorry about the picture quality.

Guy

[eucera]

Well... it is a possibility... however, it could be B. pascuorum. Confusingly, there is a regular form of B. pascuorum in Scotland that has not a single black hair anywhere! The only way to be sure (with males) is to look at the business end