HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > APOIDEA > Apidae

Nomada flava is one of three tricoloured nomads where the females are widely considered to be indistinguishable from photos, such that any id is ‘likely’ at best. The other two are Nomada panzeri and Nomada ruficornis. They are often treated as a ‘complex’. In Nomada flava, the female tergites are extensively yellow, less so in the other species, and usually with the yellow markings on tergite 2 narrowly separated by red. Tergite 1 has a broad red band, without any yellow. The scutum is red-striped and the scutellum entirely red. The sides of the thorax have a red patch. The lower face is extensively red with the markings extending around the eyes. The antennae are completely orange, usually without any darkening above that is a characteristic of Nomada panzeri. There are a few other features that are less clear but, from the details that can be seen, I’m satisfied with my assessment. The situation with males is different, hence the separate account.