Megachile willughbiella

Habitat: Woodland, gardens, parks

Size: 15-17mm

Species account: A large species found commonly throughout the UK. Females have the scopae shading from golden through red and then black. The black hairs on the last tergite are erect and not adpressed. There is a distinct preference for bellflowers as a forage plant. Males have distinctively enlarged front basitarsi, making them look like they are wearing gloves!

Similar species: Males are very similar to Megachile maritima, but the hair fringe on the basitarsi is no more than half the width of the basitarsi (as wide as or wider in willughbiella). Maritima males also have a distinctive circular incision on the lower hind corner of the fore tibia, the last antennal segment broad and flattened and dark hairs on the last two tergites. (note that only the tibial character is diagnostic, the other characters should be used in combination to obtain an ID)

Male