Wasp or Bee ID please

Lester · #1 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 06:55 AM

A sand burrowing wasp or bee, ~8mm long, swims down in very loose sand rather than making a defined burrow, very active. Found on heathland.

Apologies for the poor image quality, they don't stay still for a moment!

charlieb · #2 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 09:31 AM

A Nomada species?

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 10:52 AM

I agree with Charlie - a Nomada species. I've looked and re-looked but can't match it up as well with anything but one of the less common heathland specialists - Nomada baccata.

Please wait to re-name it until someone more experience comes by though! It may be important to the ID as to where in the UK you found it?

tristanba · #4 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 11:24 AM

Saw something very similar recently at Ash Ranges and wondered whether it might be baccata - no photos sadly

Lester · #5 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 01:54 PM

Thanks for looking everyone.

Jason, this is one of very many individuals at Thursley NNR Hamphshire. It is areas of peat bog surrounded by heathland habitat. The species seems to prefer the loose sandy major paths. I have seen them before but never managed a shot.

I would like to ID and understand their lifestyle so I have a better chance of decent shots.

Lester · #6 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 04:32 PM

Nomada baccata looks like a good bet, Thursley is mentioned in

Heathland bees

This is the first year since the fire I have noticed them in numbers again.