HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > APOIDEA > Megachilidae

Unfortunately, I only managed to get one photo of the individual featured below, which I initially misidentified as Megachile willughbiella until an expert on the UK Bees, Wasps and Ants FB group corrected me, explaining that the longer vertex and paler scopal hairs on s4 confirms Megachile ligniseca. It's one of the larger members of the genus, described as having a slightly more elongate and 'bigger-headed' build than the other large species such as Megachilie maritima or willughbiella. Although the field guide confirms the distribution status as widespread and locally frequent in the south, there are very few confirmed records from either Dorset (VC9) or South Hampshire (VC11). The BWARS website on the other hand confirms that it's an uncommon species most frequently seen in the south-east.