Gwnne's Mining bee Andrena bicolor (1 Viewer)

jforgham

Birding for fun

• Apr 3, 2020

• #1

Another bee puzzler. Think A. bicolor? Any advice? Thank you

 

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A

aeshna5

Well-known member

• Apr 3, 2020

• #2

Don't think it can be that species because it should have black hair on the face which this doesn't. Only just getting into these so will leave to someone more expert to advise further.

 

jforgham

Birding for fun

• Apr 3, 2020

• #3

Indeed, I too spending time on these and getting baffled. Andrena flavipalps perhaps?

 

ApusApus

Well-known member

• Apr 4, 2020

• #4

How about Andrena dorsata?


Shane

 

jforgham

Birding for fun

• Apr 4, 2020

• #5

ApusApus said:

How about Andrena dorsata?


Shane

Click to expand...

That looks a good match. Thank you.

 

Ficedula

velico ergo sum

• Apr 4, 2020

• #6

ApusApus said:

How about Andrena dorsata?


Shane

Click to expand...

Doesn't look right to me. Identifying male Andrena is very tricky, at the least you need a photo that clearly shows the separate antennal segments so you can judge their relative lengths. This specimen appears to have a black hind basitarsus whereas this is usually pale in dorsata. A. flavipes more likely but really can't be identified from this. There are several other species that look similar and are about in spring.

 

jforgham

Birding for fun

• Apr 4, 2020

• #7

Thanks for all the help. Appreciate it can't be done but interesting to see the possibilities. Made me look closer at these tricky bees.
Jono