Help with Bee identification please ...

jezlee · #1 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 05:11 PM

Can one of our bee experts hazard a guess at this bee? Unfortunately, it's the only photo I have, so there are no other views of it's head etc. The photo was taken in woodland in Lancashire, August 2007.

ladyhawk · #2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 06:20 PM

could it bee, Colletes succinctus.

eucera · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 06:40 PM

It's certainly a female Colletes (The "S-shaped" vein near the outer margin of the forewing is characteristic). C. succinctus is an outside bet for this as this specimen is very worn, and C. succinctus ought to be fresh in August. C. succinctus is also associated with Heather (by far and away the most important forage plant). However, very very occasionally, the species will also flower at various Asteraceae.

C. fodiens and C. similis are both specialists on Asteraceae, fly in July and are both known from Lancs (but they are coastal and uncommon). A tricky one