Banded Mining Bee
Andrena gravida
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Pavel Kacl, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pavel Kacl
Overview
The Banded Mining Bee (Andrena gravida) is a solitary ground-nesting bee species characterized by distinctive pale bands across its dark abdomen and robust, fuzzy body typical of mining bees. This important pollinator specializes in visiting spring-blooming plants and plays a crucial role in early-season pollination networks, particularly for wildflowers and fruit trees.
The Banded Mining Bee faces significant threats from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development, which destroys the sandy soils and wildflower meadows essential for nesting and foraging. Climate change and widespread pesticide use further compound these pressures, disrupting the bee's reproductive cycles and reducing available food sources.
Habitat
Sandy soils, coastal dunes, heathlands, and open grasslands with abundant wildflowers, particularly favoring areas with sparse vegetation where females can excavate ground nests. The species requires proximity to diverse flowering plants including willows, fruit trees, and spring wildflowers for pollen and nectar collection.
Other threatened species in Andrenidae
Threatened in Austria
Frequently asked questions
Why is Banded Mining Bee classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Banded Mining Bee live?
What are the main threats to Banded Mining Bee?
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