Nomada obtusifrons Nylander,1848
Synonyms
Nomada mistura SMITH 1851
Description and notes
A small Nomada immediately distinguished from all other British species by the raised, flat area between the antennal insertions (in other species this area is in the form of a longitudinal carina).
Distribution
Widely distributed throughout Britain and Ireland, though generally scarce and very local. There are no records of the species from the Channel Islands. A northern and central European species, ranging from southern Finland to France, Germany and the former Yugoslavia.
Status (in Britain only)
This species is not regarded as threatened.
Habitat
Open woodland and grassland, the habitat of its host Andrena.
Flight period
Univoltine; end of June to late August, occasionally September.
Nesting biology
A cleptoparasite of Andrena coitana (Perkins 1919, 1924a, 1924b; Hallett 1928; Chambers 1949) and possibly A. tarsata (Perkins 1919).
Flowers visited
Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), golden-rod (Solidago virgaurea), nipplewort (Lapsana communis), oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), sheep’s-bit (Jasione montana), smooth hawk’sbeard (Crepis capillaris) and wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris).
Parasites
None known.
Year profile last updated
Profile written:
Updated: 22 December 2011