White-zoned Furrow Bee

A rather large, robustly-built Lasioglossum with conspicuous white tomentose patches on the sides of tergites 2 to 4 (which form complete bands when the abdomen is distended). The hind tibiae have a dark pollen brush. Females closely resemble those of L. zonulum but has a more densely-punctate first tergite, a less subquadrate head and greyer hairs on top of the thorax. Males are more easily distinguished by the divergent ridges on sternite 6. They have the hind bestiaries pale, but the remaining tarsal segments dark. Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be identified from photos taken in the field. All red-rated records should include a photo or set of photos of the specimen, illustrating the key characters taken from a standard key, which should also be referenced (e.g. ‘Falk, 2015’). The full set of key characters are generally not visible in field photos and photos are rarely sharp enough. To aid in the verification of your records, please include face shot, side, top and wings. The notes should state whether male or female, and explain how the specimen met the key characters. Although NS may not be able to identify the species even if these reference photos are provided, the photos will be stored with the record and may allow it be identified in future. Alternatively, NS will accept records identified by a recognised local or national expert, or that have been identified via BWARS’ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065021433202 . If you have obtained this advice, please note the name of the person/organisation identifying the record in the ‘determiner’ field (e.g. ‘Stuart Roberts, BWARS Facebook’) rather than just a comment of ‘BWARS Facebook’. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters. Found in open areas, mainly on sandy and calcareous soils, scarcer on heavy clay. Females can be found from late March to late October or early November. The male appears by mid-July but possibly earlier. A solitary mining bee, sometimes nesting in aggregations. The nest is dug in flat to slightly inclined, light soil, in sparsely vegetated conditions or where there is a short sward. A widespread southern species, found in England and Wales north to Cumbria and Yorkshire.