Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Andrena ("hornet/wasp") fulva ("tawny")

Adult Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) at Geddington, Northants - April 2017

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 8-12mm  /  Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Data Deficient

A small sand bee species immediately recognisable by it's beautiful copper coloured back.  This species digs nests into the ground where they lay their eggs, and fills with nectar and pollen, giving it's larvae a food source enough to grow into maturity, where they emerge the following spring.  An entirely European species, the bulk of their range is in North-West Europe, but they are also found in areas in the Balkans and Iberian Penninsula.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Andrenidae
Genus: Andrena
SUBSPECIES: unclear

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Description

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria)

OTHER NAMES: Grey Mining Bee

Latin Etymology: Andrena ("wasp") cineraria ("receptacle of cremated ashes")

Adult Ashy Mining Bee (subspecies A. m. mellifera) at Geddington Chase, Northants - June 2011

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: 15mm  /  Wingspan: 13mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Ashy Mining Bee is one of the most distinctive of the "sand bees" found in Europe, with it's unusual monochrome colour scheme making it fairly easy to identify in the field.  As the name suggests, they nest below ground in burrows, usually in areas with low ground cover like lawns or flowerbeds.  These particular bees were found in a grazed field on the edge of the village, which fits the profile.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Andrenidae
Genus: Andrena
Subspecies: Unknown

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .