Banded Mining Bee
Andrena gravida
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.
32
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Pavel Kacl, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pavel Kacl
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Andrenidae
Genus
Andrena
Banded Mining Bee belongs to the family Andrenidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
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.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
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.
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Pesticide use and chemical contamination
Urban development and land conversion
Climate change affecting flowering phenology
Loss of wildflower meadows and native plant communities
Found in 32 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | DDData Deficient | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Banded Mining Bee (Andrena gravida). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/banded-mining-bee