Females are the size of a Honey Bee with dense brown hairs on the thorax and slightly paler hairs covering all of abdominal tergites 1-4, which contrast with the darker, blackish hairs on tergite 5 (which is often dark under the hairs). The pollen brush on the dark hind tibia is neat with even-lengthed orange hairs. It also has dark fairs on the face.

Males are mainly brown-haired with black hairs on the clypeus and up the sides of the face.

females, males

• Black hairs on face
• Ginger hairs on top of thorax)
• Ginger hairs on side of thorax
• Wide pale brown hair bands on abdomen T1-4 (contrasting with the black-haired T5)
• Thick ginger pollen brush
• All black hairs at the tip of the abdomen

Good quality images are required showing the key ID features and should include a side image. Note that most solitary bees and wasps are challenging to identify and are seldom identifiable from photographs taken in the field. NatureSpot will accept records identified by a recognised local or national expert, or that have been identified via the BWARS’ Facebook page.  If you have obtained this advice, please note the name of the person/organisation identifying the record in the ‘determiner’ field (e.g. ‘Stuart Roberts, BWARS Facebook’) and add the wording received to the comments box.

Areas with dry sandy soil such as heathland.

Males fly from March onwards and are one of the first species to appear in the Spring. Females may be found from April into July.

Fairly frequent and widespread in England and Wales.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.