Unidentified Wasp / Bee

GuyF · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 05:46 PM

Hi Everyone,
I found this photo from the summer and was wondering whether it would be possibly to get an id.
This one was found on sandy heathland in Dorset, there were a few of them around but it was tricky to get photos as they were very active! I'd estimate the size to be about 10mm and the photo was taken in mid August.

Thanks for any help you can give,
Guy

NickCantle · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 05:52 PM

Is it a species of Sawfly guy?

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 05:56 PM

At the moment all I can say is it's a Anthophorinae bee - a Nomada sp. most likely. Someone'll help further soon

JRsbugs · #4 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 06:31 PM

Hi Guy,

I have had a few Nomada sp. myself, this looks like one I haven't had. Take a look at Nomada sexfasciata on bwars.com Gallery, looks very similar except the antennae on yours are very dark.

I'm sure eucera wil be along soon.

Janet

JRsbugs · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 06:42 PM

On the other hand, it does look to match Nomada goodeniana male but I can't see that extra narrow yellow band at the top of the abdomen. It has the yellow spot with a circle around in front of the wing base though and the other thorax yellow marks.

GuyF · #6 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 07:50 PM

Thanks very much for your help so far, I'd been checking on the bwars site and I must admit I'd completely overlooked the Nomada species, but yes it does look like a good match for a Nomada, from looking at the bwars site again I'm thinking that Nomada rufipes may be the closest match but I'll wait to hear some more opinions on it.
Thanks again,
Guy

eucera · #7 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 09:36 PM

This is certainly N. rufipes. It is very abundant on the Dorset heathlands in high summer, and is typically the brood parasite of Andrena fuscipes (a heather specialist) and occasionally A. denticulata and very rarely A. nitidiuscula.

GuyF · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eucera

This is certainly N. rufipes. It is very abundant on the Dorset heathlands in high summer, and is typically the brood parasite of Andrena fuscipes (a heather specialist) and occasionally A. denticulata and very rarely A. nitidiuscula.

Thanks very much for the confirmation, this was the first time I'd noticed them but I'll be on the lookout again next summer!
Guy