Buff-tailed Mining Bee
Andrena humilis
The Buff-tailed Mining Bee is a medium-sized solitary bee species characterized by its distinctive buff-colored tail and robust, hairy body with golden-brown coloration. Females excavate individual nesting burrows in soil where they provision cells with pollen and nectar for their larvae, while both sexes serve as important pollinators of spring wildflowers and early-blooming trees.
41
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrena_humilis
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Andrenidae
Genus
Andrena
Buff-tailed Mining Bee belongs to the family Andrenidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The Buff-tailed Mining Bee is a medium-sized solitary bee species characterized by its distinctive buff-colored tail and robust, hairy body with golden-brown coloration. Females excavate individual nesting burrows in soil where they provision cells with pollen and nectar for their larvae, while both sexes serve as important pollinators of spring wildflowers and early-blooming trees.
The Buff-tailed Mining Bee faces significant threats from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development, which eliminates 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 heathlands, coastal dunes, chalk downs, and flower-rich grasslands where females excavate burrows in well-drained sandy or light soils. The species requires diverse wildflower meadows and woodland edges with abundant spring and early summer blooms for nectar and pollen collection.
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Loss of wildflower meadows and native plant communities
Urban development and land conversion
Climate change affecting flowering phenology
Pesticide use and chemical contamination
Found in 41 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). Buff-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena humilis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/buff-tailed-mining-bee