- Family: Andrena
- Approximate # species in region: 80
- Common name: mining bees
Andrena is one of the biggest groups of bees in our region. Mining bees are most frequently encountered easily seen in spring when dozens of species emerge to take advantage of spring ephemerals and woody plants in flower. A few, rarer species are active in summer (with the exception of exotic and abundant A. wilkella), and several common species are active in fall and they primarily forage on asters and goldenrods. Many Andrena have prominent facial foveae, which are vertical depressions parallel to the compound eyes on the face, which separates them from Colletes (see below for comparison).
Species covered:
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Phenology | Forage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrena dunningi | Dunning’s mining bee | Spring | Generalist |
| Andrena carlini/regularis | Carlin’s/regular mining bee | Spring | Generalist |
| Andrena erigeniae | Spring beauty mining bee | Spring | Spring beauty Claytonia spp. |
| Andrena bradleyi | Bradleyi’s mining bee | Spring | Ericaceae, esp. blueberry Vaccinium spp. |
| Andrena frigida | Frigid mining bee | Spring | Willow Salix |
| Andrena wilkella | Wilke’s mining bee | Summer | Legumes Fabaceae |
| Andrena nubecula | Cloudy-winged mining bee | Fall | Asteraceae |
| Andrena hirticincta | Hairy-banded mining bee | Fall | Asteraceae |
| Andrena asteris | Aster mining bee | Fall | Asteraceae |
