A very distinctive bumblebee with extensive red marking over the last quarter of the abdomen and no yellow bands on the thorax of the females; males have the red tail and (usually) extensive yellow markings on the face and thorax. Confusion with the much rarer B. ruderarius is possible as the basic colour pattern is similar. However, the abdomen of the female B. ruderarius is approximately circular in outline, whilst that of B. lapidarius is distinctly elongate. The corbicular hairs of female B. lapidarius… Read more
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Submitted by Anonymous on
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A distinctive Andrena species with a bluish-black cuticle and ash-grey hairs on the thorax and propodeum. Identification keys and general biology are given in Perkins (1919), Dylewska (1987), Schmid-Egger & Scheuchl (1997) and Else (in prep.).
Submitted by Anonymous on
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A Nomada species with a tricoloured gaster and reddish hair on the thorax (more evident in the female) in Britain and Ireland is likely to be this species. Identification keys and general biology are given in Perkins (1919), Gauld and Bolton (1988), Michener (2000) and Else (in prep.).
Submitted by Anonymous on
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A small, shining black bee with narrow apical bands of white hairs on the abdominal tergites. Identification characters are in Perkins (1919).
Submitted by Anonymous on
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This small Nomada was only recognised as British in 1944 (Spooner 1946) but had been found much earlier, in 1878, by C.W. Dale, although he failed to recognise the species. It is one of our most localised bee species, but has not been seen since 1982, despite several recent searches.
Submitted by Anonymous on
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Keys and general biology are found in Sladen (1912), Free & Butler (1959), Alford (1975) and Prŷs-Jones & Corbet (1991). This species is very closely related to Bombus muscorum but is more southerly in its distribution. B. humilis has undergone a major decline in its distribution, with most remaining populations being on extensive, although sometimes narrow, areas of coastal grasslands. This decline seems to be closely linked to the intensification of farming.
Submitted by Anonymous on
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A small, rather unobtrusive bee, the female largely black, the male with the clypeus and lower paraocular areas mainly yellow.