Solitary Bees for ID

[tigger]

Gardening all day today and managed to catch a glimpse of a few solitary bees whilst digging!

One I think I know, the others ???

Cheers. Jane

1. Anthophora plumipes - Feather-footed flower bee (male)



2. Andrena sp (bicolor - male??) about 11-13mm long (both pics are the same bee from different angles) Looks longer than 3 & 4 but this might just be the angle.



3. Same again? Andrena sp. (??) - this could be the same as above - it was taken at a different time though.



4. and again. Andrena sp. (??) - seen earlier in the day

[Geoff F]

Nos. 2, 3 & 4 certainly look like A. bicolor to me; but that doesn't really mean very much!

I have just been looking a a quick snap which I managed today, of what I originally thought was A. flavipes; but on closer examination it now looks more like A. bicolor with a massive load of pollen.

[tigger]

Thanks Geoff. I'm leaning towards them all being A. bicolor - hopefully Jason or Janet will be along to put us both out of our misery!

[JRsbugs]

Your females look like Andrena bicolor, it is around now.

My female was smaller than what your males are though, and males are usually smaller than females. I haven't seen an A. bicolor male yet, not that I know of anyway. They could be, but there's others to consider such as Andrena clarkella which I haven't seen either but the shape of A. bicolor is a bit humped, maybe the male is too. I don't know if male A. clarkella has black hairs on the face, the female does.

Was that of any help?

Janet

[tigger]

Looking at ID's of A. clarkella the male seems to have lighter face hairs - whereas the A. bicolor does seem to have the dark hairs. Thanks for your help with this Janet. It really helps.

[JRsbugs]

I'm not sure you can rely on the facial hair colour that much, I have seen A. bicolor with both black and a mix with some brown.

Remember the hairs on older bees will be somewhat faded too.

[tigger]

Thanks Janet. So to recap. 2 & 3 male, 4 female?

Jane

[JRsbugs]

#2 male, 3 & 4 female although the pollen baskets are not visible on #3 it has the shape of a female.

[tigger]

Thanks Janet - I can see what you mean about the shape of the female - sort of stumpier