This medium-sized Nomada is one of the more reddish species in Ireland, with a largely red-marked abdomen with narrow black bands and several small yellow spots along the margins. The thorax and head also have extensive red markings and the antennae are generally red with pale tips. This is usually enough to separate it from other species, but some Nomada ruficornis and Nomada panzeri can be extensively reddish in colour also, in which case the mandibles (which are blunt and squared off) are a surefire ID characteristic. Its host is Andrena wilkella and it is classed as Endangered due to a rather strong decline in recent decades.

Distribution in Ireland: Widely scattered, with most records from the south and east. Seemingly scarce or absent in the northwest.

Flight Period: Typically emerges in mid-May and will fly until late July, peaking in June.

Habitat: Much like its host, it is an insect of species rich grasslands, coastal cliffs, dunes, woodland edges and scrub.

Flowers visited: Bramble, buttercups, hawkweeds, speedwells and others.

Personal records: I have observed this species in Tully in Co. Fermanagh, where a female active around a nesting aggregation of Andrena wilkella. In Britain it is allegedly is much scarcer than its host species and is absent from many of its known sites, a situation which appears to be mirrored in Ireland.