cuckoo bee?

macro junkie · #1 (**permalink**) 14-04-2008, 10:21 AM

I have a Q for u guys..am i aloud to post them bigger than thumb nails?

Bub-les · #2 (**permalink**) 14-04-2008, 10:47 AM

like your photos

I wouldn't like to see them any bigger though click on each one and the first one is the stuff scary B movies are made of!

Seriously they are big enough as I say just click on each one and you get the bigger picture.
Barbara
PS welcome to WAB

eucera · #3 (**permalink**) 14-04-2008, 11:04 AM

These are definitely all Nomada bees (one of several genera we have in UK of "cuckoo bees". Are they the same specimen? where did you take the pics (locality and habitat)?

Nomada species (we have 28 species in UK) usually, but not uniquely, invade the nests of various Andrena bees. Some are generalist parasites (eg N. goodeniana and N. marshamella) and others are host specific (eg Nomada hirtipes on Andrena bucephala; N. fucata on A. flavipes).

Unfortunately, it is not possible to identify these to species level from these pics (I need to see the whole insect as well as various details). There are certain things which suggest they just could be the very common N. goodeniana.

macro junkie · #4 (**permalink**) 14-04-2008, 11:44 AM

Hi..sorry for giving u no info..i also have bigger shots of the body..il upload them to my Gallery in a sec.

it was taken in the west uk..yeovil somerset..i live next to lots of fields..i found it on a cloudy day sat on the top of a blade of grass..i offered it some honey on a leaf..it climbed on it..i sat the leaf down and got some shots of it..after that it was still cold and couldn't fly..so i put it on my hand..after a few mins warming up it flew off..