Bee ID please...

[paulewatts]

Anyone good on bees? I came across a number of these yesterday nectaring on Himalayan Balsam. They appear white in flight.



Regards

Paul e Watts
Shropshire

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Paul,

Do you have a side-shot? The two red bands on the abdomen suggest a couple of Andrenas, though I don't know which, if any, are still on the wing. It may also be a Lasioglossum, but to further personally, I'd like to see the legs/face. A side-shot should do this, though others are better at bees than me!

Take care,

Jason

[paulewatts]

It's the only shot I have I'm afraid Jason.

Paul

[JRsbugs]

Try a Honey Bee. I'll upload a pic I took recently of one on Sedum.

Janet

[JRsbugs]

Looks the same to me!

[paulewatts]

You know what? I think you're right Janet!
The thing that threw me was that all the specimens I saw flocking around the Himalyan Balsam appeared to be predominantly white, especially at top of thorax. I wondered at the time whther this was just pollen and I think it must have been. They were certainly enjoying crawling right inside the flower 'bells'. So I think they were Honey Bees heavily dusted.

Thanks for the info and pic Janet - you're a star.

Paul

[Beekeeper]

Do have my doubts about Honey Bee, wings are held out to the sides whereas when they are feeding on any flower they always fold their wings back against the body, also the coloured rings around the abdomen seem to much of a red colour for me, usually much lighter than that, unless the photograph is not reproducing the colours accurately.

BK

[JRsbugs]

My honey bee doesn't have it's wings folded back against the body, they do move around. I think Paul's is about to take off. Colour can be tricky depending on light and the camera, I use a flash even in sunshine.

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

My honey bee doesn't have it's wings folded back against the body, they do move around. I think Paul's is about to take off. Colour can be tricky depending on light and the camera, I use a flash even in sunshine.

No i agree JRsbugs, but the first picture by paulewatts shows the wings at right angles to the body, as you say it may be that the bee was about to take off but usually it is an all in one movement, wings out and away once the bee has filled its air sac, there appears to be not much blurring on the picture which would suggest the bee was at rest as opposed to beating its wings for take off, i may be wrong and perhaps we both are, maybe we shall never know just what type of bee it is, maybe i should just shut up and go back to sleep.

BK

[Hedera]

Honey bees vary a lot in colouration depending on the breed. We had several shades and variations from the dark Carnolean to the lighter ones from Buckfast. They get plastered with light pollen like ivy.