Andrena bicolor or clarkella?

JRsbugs · #1 (**permalink**) 13-03-2011, 09:27 PM

Hello,

This male I saw yesterday, 12th March, size around 9mm long.

The black hairy face and blackish hairs on the thorax side remind me of Andrena clarkella, but the abdomen has brownish hairs. However, when viewing the female of A. clarkella from a side angle they can look brown.

Any comments on this from those who have seen the males?

Janet

Matt Smith · #2 (**permalink**) 14-03-2011, 01:58 AM

Looks more like A.bicolor to me, my male vouchers for A.clarkella are a definite brown colour on the top of the thorax.

JRsbugs · #3 (**permalink**) 14-03-2011, 01:00 PM

Thanks Matt, but I'm a little confused! I thought the hairs on the thorax of this male were a definite brown.

I was leaning towards A. bicolor myself, but not knowing what they actually look like I thought the thorax hairs were maybe more orange on A. bicolor as is the female. My fresh female from last year had very orange hairs on the thorax.