Bee ID please

laetoli · #1 (**permalink**) 06-05-2011, 11:03 PM

I found this bee feeding on a Potentilla fructiosa in my garden in North London today. It's quite small - about 10mm. Could it be Halictus rubicundus?
Thanks,
Paul

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 06-05-2011, 11:47 PM

Morning Lae, and welcome to WAB!

It's some sort of Lasioglossum species. These are best done with a specimen under the microscope, though the identification keys aren't the easiest come-by.

Take care,

Jason

laetoli · #3 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 09:50 AM

Thanks for this, Jason. Slightly disappointing that it can't be identified more exactly. I was sort of planning to compile an amateur inventory of the invertebrates in my garden - a sort of Natural History of Crouch End

- but I don't think I want to capture and certainly not kill the residents. So I guess it'll have to be an approximate inventory.
All the best,
Paul

Dillybythesea · #4 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 02:43 PM

It sounds a great project to me, and not one that needs exact IDs, surely?! After all, if you end up with pics of loads of different insects all categorised by genus, and some even to species level, it'll still illustrate the rich local biodiversity, won't it.

Jason Green · #5 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laetoli

Thanks for this, Jason. Slightly disappointing that it can't be identified more exactly.

A lot can be! Others though are separated by punctation, pilosity, mandibular dentation, ventral characters, etc.

Good luck with the project!

Red Robin · #6 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 05:38 PM

Another bee to ID:

Both photos are of the same bee and I reckon a Mining Bee of some sort.

Jason Green · #7 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 05:45 PM

Hi Robin,

Yes, Mining-bees.

Take care,

Jason

Red Robin · #8 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 05:51 PM

Thanks, Jason

I'm glad you didn't have to extract its genitalia to tell me that

Jason Green · #9 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 05:56 PM

Indeed - but I could have told you more with a specimen, all the same! Oh, and

Red Robin · #10 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Indeed - but I could have told you more with a specimen, all the same! Oh, and

....Certainly. However, "Mining Bee" is sufficient for my curiosity if the bee is allowed to live.

Btw, nothing personal if we happen to disagree about taking the lives of creatures just for ID

- I appreciate your knowledge and sharing.