Nomada sp. for ID ?

[tigger]

I photographed this Nomada bee (?) in my garden today on a daffodil. It was very small, no more than 9-10mm.

I can see some red and yellow on it's abdomen... so thought it must be a Nomada - but I'm not sure. None of the photos I can find look right.

I realise it's notoriously hard to ID these... but just on the offchance...

Thanks. Jane

[tristanba]

This might well be Nomada flavoguttata - a parasite of Andrena minitula and related species. It is a very small Nomada

[tigger]

Thanks tristanba. I've found your photo of this on Flickr, does look very similar. Any idea where I can find any further info about this bee? (size etc?)

Cheers. Jane

[tristanba]

Bees of Surrey would be a good start - it is a common species but small and unobtrusive

[tigger]

Thanks. Looked in there, trouble is it didn't have sizes or a photo of a male. Can't wait until "Bees of UK" is published!

[tristanba]

there is a key to male Nomada on BWARS TEST KEYS FOR IDENTIFYING BEES

[tigger]

Thanks. That will be useful. Cheers

[eucera]

I reckon this one is N. fabriciana. It is parasitic on Andrena bicolor, and, like its host, is double brooded

[tigger]

Thanks Stuart. Great to see you on here again. I'll read up about N. fabriciana. Cheers.