Family: Apidae
Painted Nomad bee, 6.5mm to 8.5mm
female 6.5mm to 9mm male.
A medium-sized Nomad bee, although was considered rare in Victorian times it has now become widespread and common locally in southern England. It has now been recorded further north in England but yet to be recorded in Ireland and Scotland. As with all Nomad bees they are “Cuckoo bees” meaning they lay their eggs in a host’s nest. When the larva hatch, they consume the pollen meant for the host’s young. This can have a detrimental effect on the host’s (mainly Andrena Flavipes) own young being able to survive if food is in short supply. Generally speaking both sexes have variable amounts of red on tergite one and some have the red bleeding into the yellow in tergite two. The males have black marks two-thirds up on the antennas, which females lack.
Flight season… Bivoltine same as host Andrena Flavipes, Spring April to June. Summer July to August.
Flowers visited… Most spring–blossoming plants and shrubs. Composites of various plants throughout rest of year including, Asteraceae, and Potentilla.
Images below show the male species.