A small Nomada in which the gaster is mainly red with a pair of lateral yellow spots on gastral tergites 2 and 3; scutellum red.

A very distinctive bumblebee with extensive red marking over at least the last half of the abdomen, and a very bright yellow band on the front of the thorax. It is closely associated with higher altitude habitat and there may be some association with highland areas which support bilberries (Vaccinium spp.) It has also been recorded at sea-level in northern England and Scotland.

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.

A distinctive Andrena species with a bluish-black cuticle and ash-grey hairs on the thorax and propodeum. Identification keys and general biology are given in Perkins (1919), Dylewska (1987), Schmid-Egger & Scheuchl (1997) and Else (in prep.).

A small, shining black bee with narrow apical bands of white hairs on the abdominal tergites. Identification characters are in Perkins (1919).

Keys and general biology are found in Sladen (1912), Free & Butler (1959), Alford (1975) and Prŷs-Jones & Corbet (1991). This species is very closely related to Bombus muscorum but is more southerly in its distribution. B. humilis has undergone a major decline in its distribution, with most remaining populations being on extensive, although sometimes narrow, areas of coastal grasslands. This decline seems to be closely linked to the intensification of farming.