Nomada leucophthalma

This is a large cuckoo bee (12 mm) with dark red, orange-tipped antennae (instead of just orange in the case of Nomada flava) and dark legs. It has a yellow and black striped abdomen with a red band at the front. It also has a thick pile of orange hair on the mesonotum.

It is similar to N. flava and others, but the dark antenna and legs plus the early flying season help to distinguish this N. leocophthalma.

It favours hedgerows and meadows, where it searches for the nest holes of Andrena clarkella in which to lay its eggs, and feeds on nectar from flowers such as Colt's-foot.

The adult is on the wing early in the year - from March to May.

It is a parasite of the small bee Andrena clarkella.

Fairly frequent and widespread in southern Britain.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.