Stigmus pendulus

A mainly black bodied species.

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’.

Generally found associated with twigs or dead timber, including fence posts where wood-boring beetles have left holes.

The very limited data suggests the flight period is July and August, with a few records extending into September and occasional records from the second half of June.

Possible nesting sites are the small holes left by wood-boring beetles in standing dead wood or damaged trunk sections of Pedunculate Oak.

Widespread in the Home Counties and spreading northwards through the central midlands, with scattered records from Dorset to Shropshire, Lancashire, County Durham, Yorkshire and East Anglia.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.