Xylocopa iris?

[Isidro]

If Xylocopa, sure is X. iris due to the small size, but, if it's another genus of bee?

Yesterday. Peñaflor, Aragon, NE Spain, 300 meters, continental-mediterranean climate, dry gypsic steppe-lands dominated by Retama sphaerocaropa, Rosmarinus officinalis, Artemisia herba-alba, Salsola vermiculata, etc... with wheat fields. Size: about 15-18 mm, as a small Bombus (such as B. muscorum or B. humilis).



Can be identified?
Thanks.
Regards

[Christian]

Difficult. I cannot even recognize a genus, but I think it is not Xylocopa. You have annother photo?

Christian

[Isidro]

Sorry, I don't have. This is the only that the bee let me to take. If not Xylocopa (what a pity), could be a big specis of Andrena?

[Isidro]

I saw in this post viewtopic.php?f=8&t=805 that Megachile parietina is easiy mistaked with a small Xylocopa. Could be it?

[Christian]

I am really not sure about genus. Megachile parietina is possible, but there are also some large black and similar looking Andrena species (e.g. A morio).

Christian

[Isidro]

OK, thanks.

[Isidro]

Today Bernhard Jacobi, an enthusiast of Apoidea, said me that looks Xylocopa cantabrita for him. With this date I noticed than cantabrita have the same "small" size of X. iris, that fits with the one on the photo. Eyes are purple with spots as in a photo of X. cantabrita that he showed me. He said that don't looks like an Andrena for him. Coudl somebody confirm these new supposition?