Nomada errans Lepeletier,1841
Synonyms
Nomada errans var. korleviciana FRIESE 1921; Nomada errans var. sibirica FRIESE; Nomada transsylvatica ZILAHI-KISS 1927
Description and notes
This small Nomada was only recognised as British in 1944 (Spooner 1946) but had been found much earlier, in 1878, by C.W. Dale, although he failed to recognise the species. It is one of our most localised bee species, but has not been seen since 1982, despite several recent searches.
Distribution
Restricted to a small area of coast on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. Widespread in southern Europe, but nowhere frequent.
Status (in Britain only)
This species is listed as Endangered (RDB1) in both Shirt (1987) and Falk (1991). It is probably extinct now in Britain
Habitat
The known area is limestone grassland with local areas of open clay soil where the host bee, Andrena nitidiuscula, nests.
Flight period
Univoltine, July and August.
Pollen collected
This is a cleptoparasitic species, so no pollen is gathered.
Flowers visited
The species has been found at wild carrot (Daucus carota), ragwort (Senecio sp.) and yarrow (Achillea sp.). It has also been found on Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) in Germany (Westrich, 1989).
Parasites
No information is available.
Year profile last updated
Profile written:
Updated: 22/12/2011