HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > APOIDEA > Apidae

One of our two recognised Epeolus species, with this one being mostly associated with heathland and Colletes succinctus. They are reasonably small, cream and black patterned, variegated cuckoo bees. Females have a reddish scutellum and red legs. Males have a dark scutellum. They are very similar to the other form, Epeolus variegatus, which is a cleptoparasite of different Colletes species. If found away from their host they’d be difficult to identify, but at the sites I’ve seen them Colletes succinctus have been nesting. Adults fly late June to late September and may be seen visiting heathers as well as being active around the host’s nest burrows.