2 Nomada sp for ID

[tigger]

I see that I'm in the same boat as another member (Africa) - I've got a couple of Nomada sp. to try and ID as well! Both photographed in my Dorset garden today.

First, poss Nomada fluvoguttata?
Very distinctive red/black striped abdomen. Can just make out a bit of yellow on the side of 2nd tergite, red legs, 2 red raised dots on thorax. Very small bee.



Second, Nomada sp. (looks very similar to N. signata?)
Distinctive yellow/black striped abdomen (can't see any red) but again 2 raised red dots on thorax and 3 red lines. Medium/Large. Red eyes/legs. Can't find photos of any Nomada with just black/yellow abdomen - a lot of them seem to have a red tergite next to thorax - then have the yellow/black.



Any help that anyone can give me on these would be much appreciated!

Cheers. Jane

[JRsbugs]

The second one is Nomada signata, not one I have seen yet! I should say I think it is, the yellow flashes on the sides above the scutellum are visible.

Janet

[tigger]

Thanks Janet - hope you are well. Really appreciate your help with the confirmation of my ID. Think I will also send the photo to Stuart at BWARS and see what he thinks - before I start celebrating! I'll let you know what he says! Cheers. Jane

[tigger]

Just wanted to thank Janet (JRsbugs) for her confirmation of ID. I've also had confirmation from Stuart Roberts at BWARS. So all looking good! Also have at least 3 in the garden now - as well as plenty of Andrena fulva nesting.

Cheers! Jane

[JRsbugs]

I have more solitary bees in the garden than I have noticed any other year I think, they seem to be on the increase so I must be doing something right. I do have a few different A. fulva, whether I get Nomada signata is yet to be seen.

The sand path in my front bed was the sand and sandstone taken from digging the pond in 2009, what better use than to use it for a path in my newly built front garden! There's A. clarkella, A. carantonica and A. nigroaenea with nests there as well as in another dryish bed with poor soil where I think A. fulva nests, and in the lawn (rough meadow grass) too where so far I have seen A. nigroaenea and A. haemorrhoa nesting. Somewhere Halcitus rubicundus will have it's nest, I saw a female hunting around a couple of days ago.

I have seen a male A. cineraria last year and this year but haven't yet seen a female. Then of course there's those other nameless bees!

[tigger]

Yes, I've seen more in the garden this year as well. I thought it was just because I was looking for them more... but maybe there are just more this year. Maybe a couple of years of colder winters has been good for them!

So had in the garden so far:

Osmia bicolor
Andrena haemorrhoa
Andrena clarkella
Andrena cineraria
Osmia rufa
Osmia caerulescens or O leaiana
Anthophora plumipes
Poss Nomada fabriciana
Poss Nomada goodeniana
Poss Nomada flavoguttata
Nomada signata
Andrena flavipes
Andrena fulva
Andrena labiata
Andrena clarkella
Lasioglossum sp.

Quite pleased considering it's so early in the season.

Jane