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APIDAE
Osmia bicolor (Megachilinae,scarce)
It seems there is a small population of this scarce southern species on Bredon Hill. It may be a recent colonist due to a northward movement as a result of climate change. This is a distinctive little bee, the female looks at first like a worker of Bombus lapidarius, but the flight pattern and behaviour are quite different. Nests are constructed inside empty snail shells. I saw several females on 15.4.and 18.4.2008.
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Coelioxys rufescens (Megachilinae, widespread).
I managed just one photo when this female turned up in the garden on 28.6.2008. Note the peculiar pointed abdomen on females of this elusive genus.
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Andrena labiata (Andrenidae, restricted).
One female collected from Speedwell flowers at Beckford Gravel Pit in the south of the county on 11.5.2008. This is a very pretty little bee with the red bands on it’s abdomen contrasting beautifully with the blue flowers of the Speedwells. This uncommon species is known to favour Speedwells.
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DIPTERA
Leptarthrus brevirostris (Asilidae, local).
I was lucky to get a reasonably good photo of a male amongst rank vegetation along a bank at Bredon Hill on 29.5.2008. My 1st record of this localised species, which is associated with chalk and limestone grasslands in southern England.
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Dysmachus trigonus (Asilidae, local).
One of several collected from a sandy path at Kempsey Common on 30.6.2008. My only previous record is of one from Hartlebury Common. Sandy heathland is the preferred habitat for this localised robber-fly, so I believe the tiny remnant of suitable heath remaining at Kempsey must make this and many other heath-specialist species particularly vulnerable to disturbance.
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Callicera aurata
(Syrphidae, RDB3).
A male collected from Dogwood flowers alongside Deerfold Wood, Drakes Broughton on 14.6.2008 is my 1st record of this spectacular Hoverfly.