Colletes fodiens

Habitat: Sandy areas, both inland and coastal

Size: 9-10mm

Species account: A widespread species but restricted to sandy areas, unlike the similar Colletes similis. Females forage from asteraceae, with tansy and ragwort frequently visited. The flight period is July-September. Females have particularly wide hair bands on the abdomen, and these, combined with the dense clypeal hair help to separate from similis. Colletes daviesanus is also similar, see that species page for differences.