Solitary Bee with Long Antennae

tigger · #1 (**permalink**) 09-04-2010, 09:46 PM

I saw this bee in the garden yesterday, lurking on the laurel hedge. The thing that really struck me about it was its long antennae.

I wondered if it could be a Lasioglossum sp.? I'm really not sure which one, as the only ones I've seen have been in July/August/Sept time (usually L. calceatum).

I realise that the first one looks very different from the rest, but I'm sure they are all the same bee - just in differing light.

Cheers. Jane

(I apologise for the bad pics in advance!)

tigger · #2 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 06:11 AM

Could this be a dark form of a L. calceatum?

Matt Smith · #3 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 09:07 AM

Male Andrena sp. I would not expect to see Lasioglossum calceatum males untill mid-summer at the earliest.

tigger · #4 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 09:42 AM

Although L. calceatum do fly from April to October according to the book "bees of surrey". Can't seem to see any Andrena sp. with such long antennae. Any suggestions?

Cheers. Jane

JRsbugs · #5 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 12:03 PM

Is is a male Andrena, they have an extra segment to the antennae and some can look long. I wouldn't like to guess a species though, it appears to have some banding on the abdomen.

Janet

tigger · #6 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 01:28 PM

Oh, OK. When you say "they" I'm guessing you mean "males"? - it still looked very long when compared to all the other pics of Andrena sp. that I've looked at on the BWARS site. It's a mystery. I'll keep delving. Thanks Jane

JRsbugs · #7 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 01:57 PM

Yes I meant males, they have 13 segments. I have a very small male around now that looks similar to your first one but not sure if it has the bands, hairs can give that impression at some angles. The smaller size can give the impression of bigger antennae.

The other pics really don't show enough to say they are the same bee, too much glare and males are difficult at best.

tigger · #8 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 03:19 PM

Yes, I know the pics are rubbish

It was only a little bee... I'll have to look out for it, and see if I can get some better pics.

Cheers. Jane

heatherannej · #9 (**permalink**) 18-04-2011, 02:53 PM

Hi all,

This is an old thred I know but I think I am seeing this bee beside my front garden. My camera battery has just died on me so I can't get pics yet. Do these bees burrow into the ground? There are several bees and they each disappear down a different hole in the earth.

Heather