Hawksbeard Mining Bee
VU

Hawksbeard Mining Bee

Andrena fulvago

UnknownDDEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrena_fulvago

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Hawksbeard Mining Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss of flower-rich grasslands and chalk downlands where its host plants thrive. Agricultural intensification has eliminated many of the hawksbeard species (Crepis) that this specialist bee depends on for pollen collection. The species' highly specific foraging requirements make it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as isolated populations struggle to maintain viable breeding colonies without sufficient floral resources within flight range.

Threat summary

Habitat

This specialist mining bee inhabits chalk downlands, limestone grasslands, and flower-rich meadows across southern and central England. The species requires areas with abundant hawksbeard plants (Crepis species) for pollen collection, typically nesting in bare or sparsely vegetated ground in close proximity to these essential food sources.

Other threatened species in Andrenidae

VU

Large Shaggy Bee

Panurgus banksianus

Unknown
VU

Red-horned Mini-miner

Andrena nanula

Unknown
VU

Graue Lockensandbiene

Andrena nycthemera

Unknown
Small Scabious Mining BeeVU

Small Scabious Mining Bee

Andrena marginata

Unknown

Threatened in Afghanistan

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
small mallowVU

small mallow

Malva pusilla

Unknown
Tiger SawgillCR

Tiger Sawgill

Lentinus tigrinus

Unknown
EN

Malus komarovii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Hawksbeard Mining Bee classified as Vulnerable?
Hawksbeard Mining Bee is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Hawksbeard Mining Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss of flower-rich grasslands and chalk downlands where its host plants thrive. Agricultural intensification has eliminated many of the hawksbeard species (Crepis) that this specialist bee depends on for pollen collection. The species' highly specific foraging requirements make it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as isolated populations struggle to maintain viable breeding colonies without sufficient floral resources within flight range.
Where does Hawksbeard Mining Bee live?
Hawksbeard Mining Bee occurs in Afghanistan, Åland Islands, Albania, Andorra, Austria, and Azerbaijan (plus 33 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Hawksbeard Mining Bee?
The main threats to Hawksbeard Mining Bee are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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