Andrena dorsata

Females are easily recognised by the broad hind tibiae with a very short dorsal hair fringe coupled with the largely glabrous abdomen bearing white hair fringes along the hind margin of tergites 2-4. Males resemble small slim females and can be distinguished from species like wilkella and ovatula by the dark hind tibiae and longer hind tarsi, which are about 1.5 times the length of the tibiae.

Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be identified from photos taken in the field.  All red-rated records should include a photo or set of photos of the specimen, illustrating the key characters taken from a standard key, which should also be referenced (e.g. ‘Falk, 2015’).  The full set of key characters are generally not visible in field photos and photos are rarely sharp enough. To aid in the verification of your records, please include face shot, side, top and wings.  The notes should state whether male or female, and explain how the specimen met the key characters.  Although NS may not be able to identify the species even if these reference photos are provided, the photos will be stored with the record and may allow it be identified in future.   Alternatively, NS will accept records identified by a recognised local or national expert, or that have been identified via BWARS’ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065021433202 .  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’) rather than just a comment of ‘BWARS Facebook’.

The spring generation forages heavily on spring blossoming shrubs and spring umbellifers, whilst the summer generation likes brambles, summer umbellifers, thistles and ragworts.

The spring generation flies from March to May and the summer generation from July to September.

A. dorsata is widespread and locally common in southern England. It is now thought to be expanding its range northwards with records extending north to Lincolnshire and has also been recorded in South Wales.

Rare in VC55 –- this species had not been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland since the early 1900s until the Sapcote record of March 2014.