3 Solitary Bees for ID

[tigger]

Hi. I photographed these three bees in my garden today (in between the clouds). Wondered if anyone could help with ID confirmations?

1. Lasioglossum calceatum?



2. Lasioglossum sp. (?)



3. Lasioglossum sp. (?)



I think 2 and 3 are different, but not absolutely sure. 3 seems to have a very golden look to the stripes on it's abdomen and more gingerey hairs than 2. Although I notice that 2 and 3 have very similar two-tone leg colouration (not dissimilar to L. calceatum - but 2 & 3 were much bigger than 1)

Is there a book that shows photos of all these solitary bees? (I have Bees of Surrey... just wondered if there was anything else?)

Thanks. Jane

[tigger]

No one got any ideas on my three little bees?

[tigger]

Pushing this up to the top again.. in the hope someone can help. Thanks.

[JRsbugs]

#1 looks like Lassioglossum calceatum male, although the thorax is showing rich coloured hairs which I haven't seen on males, they usually look pale or faded.

The other two I wouldn't like to say for sure, as I'm not expert enough but also I think these can be difficult without a specimen. They do resemble to a degree Halictus rubicundus males, but reading on Wiki it states "distinguished from males of similar species by the absence of an apical hair band on the terminal abdominal segment". Yours look to have hair bands at the top of the last segment.

Janet

[tigger]

Hi. Thanks Janet for your comment.

I'm pretty sure #1 is L. calceatum - very similar to the others I've seen, but I will check out the "rich" coloured hairs to make sure.

#2 & 3. I thought Halictus rubicundus had bright orange-yellow hind legs in both sexes. These only have "half" yellow, rather than completely yellow legs. So I'm not sure. Lots more of these in the garden today. Practically on every flower that was out in one particular flowerbed... would love to find out what they are...

Hopefully eucera will be along to steer us in the right direction

[eucera]

I have a feeling that the second and third batches may well males of be L. leucozonium. At first glance I though H. rubicundus but as Janet points out, there are several thinks which suggest it can't be

[JRsbugs]

I just checked out Lasioglossum leucozonium on BWARS, only a female there but I had one with broad white bands on the abdomen, and checking some of my pics which have not been sorted into their respective folders yet I also have a male which looks like yours! Must get those sorted...