Taxonomy

Colletes (Colletes) similis

Distribution

Status

Conservation status

Near threatened

Species Biology

Identification

  • Medium sized solitary species (8-12mm)
  • Thorax with ginger hairs (fade with age)
  • Both males and females with bands of white hair on the abdomen
  • Males generally smaller than females, with hairier faces
  • Could be confused with C. daviesanus or C.floralis

Habitat

Restricted to sand dunes. Known only from the east and south coast of Ireland

Flight period

May-September

Nesting biology

Ground nesting (sandy/lime soil)

Flowers visited

Oligolectic on Asteraceae - Tanacetum, Tripleurospermum, Inula, Anthemis, Achillea, Tanacetum, Erigeron

Distribution

World distribution(GBIF)

Across Europe, including Britain and Ireland, northwards to Finland

Temporal change

Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024

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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.

Images