Another new bee/wasp for id please

threadspider · #1 (**permalink**) 27-07-2010, 07:12 PM

Good evening all and I wonder of anyone can help me out with this beastie. Taken yesterday in my garden (Wiltshire) feeding on marjoram. It has long antennae and distinctive mahogany brown marks on the two of the segments of the abdomen-obvious in pic 1.
I think this may be a wasp, not a bee. It reminded me of illustrations of spider hunting wasps. Size about 1 cm.
Any thoughts?
Judith

Matt Smith · #2 (**permalink**) 27-07-2010, 08:00 PM

Best guess - male Lasioglossum calceatum or L.albipes - a close look is needed for a confident determination.

threadspider · #3 (**permalink**) 27-07-2010, 08:10 PM

That's massively helpful Matt-I have numerous pictures of it and some better than the ones above. I'll have another look. Thanks-I'm on a very steep learning curve this summer.
Judith