Bare-saddled Blood Bee - Sphecodes ephippius

Similar to several other Sphecodes species and care is needed with the identification.

Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be identified from photos taken in the field.  All red-rated records should include a photo or set of photos of the specimen, illustrating the key characters taken from a standard key, which should also be referenced (e.g. ‘Falk, 2015’).  The full set of key characters are generally not visible in field photos and photos are rarely sharp enough. To aid in the verification of your records, please include face shot, side, top and wings.  The notes should state whether male or female, and explain how the specimen met the key characters.  Although NS may not be able to identify the species even if these reference photos are provided, the photos will be stored with the record and may allow it be identified in future.   Alternatively, NS will accept records identified by a recognised local or national expert, or that have been identified via BWARS’ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065021433202 .  If you have obtained this advice, please note the name of the person/organisation identifying the record in the ‘determiner’ field (e.g. ‘Stuart Roberts, BWARS Facebook’) rather than just a comment of ‘BWARS Facebook’.

Occurring in a range of habitats, such as open woodland, heaths, calcareous grassland and coastal sites.

Univoltine; the female flies from late March to late September and the male from mid-July to early October.

The species is probably a cleptoparasite of several species of Lasioglossum, including the common species calceatum, lativentre and leucozonium.

Widespread in southern Britain, being found from the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall to Kent, north to Yorkshire and Cumbria. Also known from Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.