[ID, pinned] Which Nomad?

[Jason Green]

Afternoon all,

I have now got into collecting specimens as I would like to get beyond the 'sp.' stuff! This is the first time I've seen a Nomad bee, which was investigating a few Andrena-createdholes on a bank of sparsely-vegetated earth. I have now pinned it and followed the male Test Key as best I can but am not sure I interpreted things correctly!

27/04/2010

About 10mm

Any help appreciated.

Take care,

Jason

[Matt Smith]

Female Nomada fucata - the sting is quite obvious in both the lateral and dorsal shots. Only 2 Nomada species have a single yellow dot on the back of the thorax, and the other species is black and yellow, no red/brown on it.

Specimens are best pinned vertically, if you are going to be taking vouchers then I would suggest opening up the mandibles on all specimens so that you can see any dentition, it is important for some groups of bees, though not so much in this particular case.

I'd be interested to know what test key you are using?

Matt

[Jason Green]

Thanks Matt! That has confirmed my hunch. An Na-classified species then.

As for the mandibles, I tried opening them up but to no avail. I then looked at it from a kind of posterio-ventral perspective. This showed the general mandibular curve and that, though the palp was in the way, that the curve would only have had the provisions for one tooth. I'm not sure why it wouldn't open-up though, it was just over three hours since I added the ethyl replacement so I doubt it had hardened!

As for pinning, I've tried pinning vertically, but I lack minutens. Instead, I use a strand of copper wire, about 0.5mm dia., add a touch of superglue to it and mount that to the ventral side of the thorax. I run through keys quickly before expiring the specimen and if it seems I need the mesopleuron or forecoxae for any stages I mount it instead slightly diagonally on sternite 1.

As for collecting, I have done my first genital work too - a Bibionid, though I don't know if that one required it. Still, the retention of the voucher I suspect will be essential in identifying it.

Oh, the test key is on the BWARS site, see: http://www.bwars.com/Files%204%2...202007%20r.rtf for direct link to file

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

An Na-classified species then.

Technically yes - but now far too frequent to deserve any kind on Notable status - see the NBN Map. A cleptoparasite of Andrena flavipes.

[Jason Green]

Thanks Matt - I saw the NBN earlier, and agree obviously. I saw a bee resembling flavipes two days ago in the same area too.