Bee's on rowan blossom - id please?

DeepcutMark · #1 (**permalink**) 15-05-2011, 02:55 PM

Firstly apologies for the rogue apostrophe in the title, not sure what happened there... *facepalms*

This could be the first of a series! Our Vilmorins Rowan is in blossom, and is smothered in bees, hoverflies, you name it.

Have identified the bumble's to a point, I struggle with the solitary bees though.

Here's three to start with, I appreciate there way not be enough to go on, but I'll try to get better pics today. Thanks in advance.

1/

2/

3/

Lindsay-c · #2 (**permalink**) 15-05-2011, 03:19 PM

I'm not too good with bee identifications but I reckon...

1) a honey bee ? Apis mellifera

2) Common carder-bee ?

3) not too sure. Perhaps another honey bee

Hopefully the pro's will give you better responses

Matt Smith · #3 (**permalink**) 15-05-2011, 04:13 PM

1) Possibly a very tatty Andrena - A.fulva perhaps but no real ID possible from the photo.

2) Andrena fulva
3) Honeybee

JRsbugs · #4 (**permalink**) 15-05-2011, 04:42 PM

I agree with Matt's first two, but the last is surely an Andrena? A. carantonica looks the best bet to me but can't be sure. I think the haze around the eyes is a photographic effect, the pollen baskets and abdomen don't fit a honey bee.