Burbage Mining Bee
Andrena lathyri
The Burbage Mining Bee (Andrena lathyri) is a specialized solitary bee species with a distinctive brownish-black coloration and pale hair bands across its abdomen. This ground-nesting bee plays a crucial ecological role as a pollinator of leguminous plants, particularly those in the pea family, and creates underground burrows where females provision individual cells with pollen and nectar for their larvae.
23
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Henk Wallays, all rights reserved, uploaded by Henk Wallays
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Andrenidae
Genus
Andrena
Burbage Mining Bee belongs to the family Andrenidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The Burbage Mining Bee (Andrena lathyri) is a specialized solitary bee species with a distinctive brownish-black coloration and pale hair bands across its abdomen. This ground-nesting bee plays a crucial ecological role as a pollinator of leguminous plants, particularly those in the pea family, and creates underground burrows where females provision individual cells with pollen and nectar for their larvae.
The Burbage Mining Bee faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification and urban development in its specialized coastal and heathland environments. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the flowering patterns of its preferred host plants and shifting suitable habitat zones, while the species' narrow ecological requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Specialized coastal heathlands, sand dunes, and cliff-top grasslands where it creates ground nests in sandy soils. The species is closely associated with areas containing its preferred forage plants, particularly in maritime heath communities and adjacent rough grasslands.
Threats
Degradation of heathland and coastal habitats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Climate change impacts on host plant availability
Pesticide use in surrounding agricultural areas
Found in 23 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). Burbage Mining Bee (Andrena lathyri). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/burbage-mining-bee