Stelis breviuscula (Nylander,1848)
Synonyms
Stelis pygmaea SCHENCK 1853; Heriades paxillorum CHEVRIER 1872
Description and notes
A relatively recent addition to the British bee list, the first specimen having been found in West Sussex in 1984.
Distribution
The very few British records of this small bee are from a handful of sites in West Sussex (particularly the Midhurst and Emsworth areas) and two in Surrey. British records and observations are summarised by Else (1998). The bee may also occur in other localities in southern England which support its host species, the bee Heriades truncorum (this species was found in all the sites listed above).
Widely distributed in western Europe, from southern Finland south to Iberia, and east to Greece; also known from north Africa (Algeria and Egypt).
Status (in Britain only)
Stelis breviuscula is known from only five 10 km squares. It was listed as Endangered (RDB1) by Shirt (1987) and as Insufficiently Known (RDBK) by Falk (1991). Work for this Atlas suggests that this status might need to be reviewed.
Habitat
This includes the edges of heathland, and areas close to a marsh and a river.
Flight period
Univoltine; July to August.
Nesting biology
In southern England the presumed host is the megachiline bee Heriades truncorum (the well-known host on the Continent (Westrich 1989)). This latter species nests in burrows in dead wood and pithy stems.
Flowers visited
Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), hawkweed (Hieracium sp.) and ragwort (Senecio jacobaea).
Parasites
No information available. Author of profile: G R Else.
Year profile last updated
Profile written: 1998
Proofed: February 2012