Nomada bella Cresson, 1863

Nomada bella Cresson, 1863 View in CoL (ruficornis group, bella subgroup)

Belle Nomad

Notes: Reported as “declining” in New Hampshire (Matthiasson & Rehan 2019), but this species, as identified by males, was one of the most numerous early spring-flying Nomada found at Ithaca, New York (ca. early 2000s), and elsewhere in the region by J. S. Ascher (unpublished).There are 81 records for N. bella in Connecticut (of those 71% are females identified by J. S. Ascher), and 95% were collected after the year 2000. Due to identification difficulties, especially of females, this species is likely to be under-recorded, and digitized records cannot be relied upon to fully capture its distribution and abundance. In Connecticut, it is best known from inland dunes, powerline ROW, and a plantation of eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus ) with an understory of blueberry ( Vaccinium spp. ) and black huckleberry ( Gaylussacia baccata ) at the Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown (New London County).