Coelioxys sp. (Sharp tailed bee)♂︎

Hesperis matronalis (Dame's rocket)

Last update: 2 August 2020
garden
species


Rare

LOCATION: Krimpen aan den IJssel, garden

OBSERVATION:
2020-VI-26


My eye caught this small bee foraging on Oregano (Origanum vulgare). I noticed it due to its peculiar shape and colour, but only after looking at the photo I noticed it was a male Coelioxys bee (Coelioxys sp.). When I tried to photograph him he flew away and went on to forage on Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis).

Possibly it is a male C. elongata since a female of that species was already roaming around the garden for some time.
However the males cannot be distinguished from C. inermis and C. mandibularis without investigating the genitalia.

Coelioxys spec ♂︎, on Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

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