Brown & Black Solitary Bee for ID

tigger · #1 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 06:50 PM

I'm stuck! I just can't work out what this bee is... can anyone help me?

I thought it was Andrena nitida, then A. clarkella ... but neither looked quite right. Seen basking on my high laurel hedge yesterday in Dorset.

Many thanks. Jane

Matt Smith · #2 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 08:11 PM

Andrena carantonica (= A.scotica) looks a good bet to me.

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 08:57 PM

Evening Jane,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

Andrena carantonica (= A.scotica) looks a good bet to me.

Agreed.

Take care,

Jason

tigger · #4 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 10:08 PM

Many thanks Jason & Matt.

You know I looked at Andrena carantonica (= A.scotica) (really I did!) and ummed and ahhd and then chickened out and posted it on WAB.... as I've never recorded it in the garden before (even though I see it's really common).

Have got quite a few in the garden this year... so now I know what to record them as. I had Nomada marshamella in the garden last year - so I'll need to look out for them as well. Already seen plenty of female N. flava.

Cheers

Jane