Cuckoo Bee, Coelioxys?

[JRsbugs]

Hi,

This landed on my wall yesterday, I got two similar pics before it flew off, this one is the closest.

I found a drawing of "Coelioxys mandibular" on a Dutch site which has the same markings, could this be Coelioxys mandibularis?

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Janet

[eucera]

Ahaa! This is a female of the wasp Sapyga quinquepunctata. These are brood parasites of Various Osmia. I have had a couple buzzing around my bee hotel today. George and I have reared them also from snail shell nests of Osmia aurulenta

[JRsbugs]

Thanks Stuart! I was puzzled as to whether it was a wasp as the abdomen looked too long, but the head is a darned good bee mimic!

It spent ages today hunting on the south wall, I got one poor pic of it after it inspected a hole.

A record for Lincolnshire!