Southern Marsh Orchids

Southern Marsh Orchids

Wednesday 20 April 2016

Bees & Hoverflies

A little bit of sunshine was all that was needed to bring the bees and hoverflies to the flower beds. Have already had regular visits from Buff-tailed and Red-tailed Bumblebees and Honey Bees but have also seen at least 3 different types of mining/solitary bee. The only one that I've managed to image is this one.
Could this be a Tawny Mining Bee?

In name only ..... the first visit to the garden of a Bee Fly. Hopefully it will visit again and I will be able to try for a 'head shot'.

Lots of these little hoverflies in the beds. I think they could be Platycheirus albimanus but would appreciate confirmation/correction.



3 comments:

  1. I think that's Osmia bicolor rather than Andrena fulva - the female of the latter species is redder all over. We've had both species in our garden this spring.

    The hover looks good for P. albimanus - it's much the commonest of the silver-spotted Platycheirus.

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  2. Sorry got the wrong name - Osmia bicornis (aka O. rufa) not O. bicolor!

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  3. Thanks George. I totally missed the Red Mason-bee when I was looking this up. I was puzzled by the lack of ginger hair on the abdomen !

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