Species details

Brachypalpus laphriformis (Fallén, 1816)

Nomenclature

Brachypalpus bimaculatus (Macquart, 1829) in Coe (1953) and Kloet & Hincks (1976).

Biology

The larva is found in rot-holes in deciduous trees such as Beech Fagus sylvatica, Ash Fraxinus excelsior and particularly, Oak Quercus. Males are usually found sunning themselves on trunks or flying around fallen trees in clearings. Females are more elusive, but can be found investigating trees suitable for breeding. In flight they closely resembles solitary bees of the genus Osmia and may therefore have been overlooked. Occasionally found at tree flowers such as Hawthorn Crataegus.

Distribution

Most frequently encountered in well-wooded areas in southern Britain. It can occasionally occur in numbers in localities such as Windsor Great Park, but it is more frequently found as single individuals. The majority of records are from southern and western England as far north as the Cumbria where it seems to be well-established. There is a single Scottish record from Perth in 2010 (Wilkinson, 2010).

Status

Was listed as "Notable" by Falk, 1991 and Rare (RDB3) by Shirt, 1987, but dropped from these statuses by Ball & Morris, 2010. Therefore considered LOWER RISK.