Nomada flava or panzeri male

[JRsbugs]

Hi,

I thought I might be able to separate these two by the date seen. It doesn't work so easily!

This Nomada male was on 21st March.

Nomada flava parasitises Andrena nigroaenea, I got what I think is a male A. nigroaenea on 21st and 22nd, a female on 23rd March!

Nomada panzeri parasitises Andrena fulva which I first saw on 25th March.

They both parasitise other species of Andrena, but these are what I know I have.

As it coincided first with Andrena nigroaenea I am tempted to think it is Nomada flava.

I have checked flying times charts, the earliest one is supposed to be N. panzeri in late March with N. flava in mid April according to this site.

It has been an early year for many insects after an early but harsh winter.

Has anyone else seen Nomada this early?

I managed one pic only of the Nomada on 21st March.

Janet

[Geoff F]

Well Janet, I can slightly beat you on the date, although this was alongside the sea in deepest South Devon.

March 17th. But I'm still not satisfied with my identification. I suspect that it is probably N. fabriciana which is one of the early fliers, but I don't have any perfect angle photos.

With regard to your other question. Bees of Surrey give, from April for N. flava and from mid April for N. panzeri so that doesn't really confirm very much. And they also state that males of both species cannot be separated apart from expert microscopic examination.

But I'm not sure about females.

[JRsbugs]

Well I think you have had better weather on the south coast!

I think it's better to go by host than by books re flying times. As said before, they can't read books.

I think the male of the two can't be separated even by miscroscopic examination? Females I think can.

Have you put yours up for possible ID? I think these are fascinating, more so if you can marry them up to the hosts. I'm trying to get to grips with them a little more, and that requires being methodical

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

I think the male of the two can't be separated even by miscroscopic examination? Females I think can.

To separate females you need to see the colours of the hairs of the clypeus, the best way to view these is from the side.

[Africa]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Hi,

I thought I might be able to separate these two by the date seen. It doesn't work so easily!

This Nomada male was on 21st March.

Nomada flava parasitises Andrena nigroaenea, I got what I think is a male A. nigroaenea on 21st and 22nd, a female on 23rd March!

Nomada panzeri parasitises Andrena fulva which I first saw on 25th March.

They both parasitise other species of Andrena, but these are what I know I have.

As it coincided first with Andrena nigroaenea I am tempted to think it is Nomada flava.

I have checked flying times charts, the earliest one is supposed to be N. panzeri in late March with N. flava in mid April according to this site.

It has been an early year for many insects after an early but harsh winter.

Has anyone else seen Nomada this early?

I managed one pic only of the Nomada on 21st March.

Janet

That bee calendar site is so cool!

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by Africa

That bee calendar site is so cool!

There's another one on a Dutch site but the times are even later..

Calendar - wildebijen.nl

[Geoff F]

Have you put yours up for possible ID? I think these are fascinating, more so if you can marry them up to the hosts. I'm trying to get to grips with them a little more, and that requires being methodical

Well, Janet, I have put my uncertain bee to one side with the intention of asking for a second opinion but, so far, that is as far as it got. Perhaps I will do it tomorrow.

But everything has suddenly started here, with some calm and sunny weather and today's 'crop' will take a bit of sorting; including some hoverflies which are causing me a bit of 'head scratching'.

And what I think is my first Andrena cineraria of the year, but I haven't got around to double checking it yet.