Friday 8 July 2016

Newbie

Since I have started to notice the bees in the garden I am finding more and more.  Of course they were always there without being recognised but I am gradually improving my ID skills.  This is a new bee this week - it is small, male, probably a Colletes and possibly Colletes daviesanus.



But then again I could be completely wrong.  It is nice to see whatever it is.

4 comments:

  1. Yes, this is a Colletes species male; they are very difficult to get to species level without taking a specimen and looking under a microscope!
    Also look out for the much smaller, almost all-black Hylaeus bees that have just appeared in my garden and love Astilbe too; also called yellow-faced bees (because the males in particular have pale yellow or white face patterns).

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    Replies
    1. Oops, I meant Astrantia of course!

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    2. Thanks Louise. This was the only one I saw so I didn't feel like putting him under a microscope. I'll keep a look out for the Hylaeus bees.

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  2. It's a lovely delicately coloured bee.

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