Taxonomy
Sphecodes ephippius
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Least concern
Species Biology
Identification
- Medium sized species (8-10mm)
- Thorax black
- Both males and females with red and black abdomen
- Males generally smaller than females
- Could be confused with the other Sphecodes species in Ireland
Habitat
Recorded from a range of habitat types
Flight period
April-September
Nesting biology
Cleptoparasite. Breeds in nests of Lasioglossum species
Flowers visited
Polylectic - Daucus, Heracleum, Achillea, Bellis, Carduus, Hieracium, Leucanthemum, Solidago, Taraxacum, Tussilago, Calluna, Melilotus, Potentilla, Salix
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
All of Europe, northwards to southern Finland, up to 1800m in the Alps
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.
References
Publications
Conservation status: FitzPatrick Ú., Murray T.E., Byrne A., Paxton
R.J., Brown M.J.F. (2006) Regional Red List of Irish Bees, Publ. Rep. to
National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland) and Environment and Heritage
Service (N. Ireland). http://www.npws.ie/publications/red-lists
Flowers visited & World distribution: Westrich, P. (1989) Die Wildbienen
Baden-Württembergs. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, Germany.