Colletes daviesanus

Habitat: Parks, gardens open areas

Size: 7-9mm

Species account: The smallest species of Colletes in the UK, and also the most likely to be found in gardens. As with several other Colletes species, females provision the nest entirely from flowers in the family Asteraceae, tansy, daisies and ragwort being common forage plants. Colletes daviesanus is on the wing earlier than other similar Colletes, being found from early June through to August.

Similar species: Several other Colletes have overlapping flight periods and also feed from Asteraceae. Colletes daviesanus differs from these by its smaller size, more grey brown and sparser thoracic hair (allowing the mesonotum to shine through) and having the first tergite wide and sparsely punctured.

Colletes similis has more a coarsely punctured first tergite, and a more red-brown and denser thoracic covering of hair.

Colletes fodiens has the first tergite hairy and coarsely punctured and very dense clypeal hair. The hair bands on the abdomen are particularly wide.

Male