Question about Melecta albifrons

Dillybythesea · #1 (**permalink**) 09-06-2010, 07:28 AM

Having been browsing postings and noticed Matt Smith's ID of a bee as Melecta albifrons, I'm hoping this might get confirmed too. It was in the garden this week and I decided the white patch must be a growth or parasite - but sounds like it's the characteristic then?

eucera · #2 (**permalink**) 09-06-2010, 07:50 AM

Hi Rhona

Your pic is certainly M. albifrons. The amount and extent of the white hair patches on the sides of the abdomen is quite variable. I have seen many where the white is reduced or even absent, and then there are well-marked examples where the dots can be very obvious.

As you know, this bee is the cuckoo of Anthophora plumipes

Dillybythesea · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2010, 09:20 AM

Many thanks for the very helpful comments Stuart. I have now revisited the information sheet on Anthophora plumipes and taken better notice of the cuckoo bee mention! Thank you also for the info sheet on Bombus hypnorum a couple of days ago. I clicked on the hymettus.org link and downloaded all the other sheets too - just in case! ATB, Rhona