This is a rather small but distinctive Nomada species. Both sexes possess a black head and thorax with reddish tegulae. Females have a predominantly dull red abdomen (sometimes darkened) and a distinctive cream blotch on tergite 5, with a variable number of smaller cream spots which run laterally along either side of the abdomen. Males are usually smaller and duller, with a black and red coloured abdomen and wedge-shaped cream spots along the margins of tergites 2-4. It is a scarce species and is classed as Endangered.

Distribution in Ireland: Widespread across Ireland but scarce and thinly distributed.

Flight Period: Records span May-September, but the species peaks between late-June and mid-August.

Habitat: Found in the habitats of its host, such as heathland, scrubby grasslands, brownfield sites and open woodland.

Flowers Visited: Ragwort, Sheeps-bit, Tormentil and others.

Personal Records: I have recorded this species in Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone at a sandy brownfield site. Females can be observed flying around the nesting sites of the host species Andrena coitana, occasionally visiting nearby Ragwort flowers. I also found a female at Top Rath (Co. Louth), flying around a well-trodden path through rough pasture and at Bonny Glen (Co. Donegal) which was flying around a bare patch of gravelly soil in an area of heathy scrub in a recently-felled conifer plantation. Both sexes have also been found at Lagan Meadows (Co. Antrim) where they are found around nesting aggregations of A. coitana on clay soil in a sunny woodland clearing. Perhaps the best site I know is Woodburn Forest, where I have counted apporximately 20 females and 4 males in one visit. Here, females were observed flying around bare soil patches and nectaring on flowers such as Tormentil.