EN

Red-backed Mining Bee

Andrena russula

UnknownDDEU

Overview

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

The Red-backed Mining Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss of flower-rich grasslands and heathlands through agricultural intensification and urban development. Changes in land management practices, including reduced grazing and the abandonment of traditional farming methods, have led to habitat degradation and the loss of crucial nesting sites in sandy soils. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered flowering phenology of key food plants, potentially disrupting the species' synchronized emergence with its preferred pollen sources.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Red-backed Mining Bee inhabits flower-rich grasslands, heathlands, and coastal dunes with sandy soils suitable for ground nesting. It shows a strong preference for areas with abundant spring-flowering plants, particularly favoring sites with diverse wildflower communities and sparse vegetation cover that allows access to bare ground for excavating nest burrows.

Other threatened species in Andrenidae

VU

Graue Lockensandbiene

Andrena nycthemera

Unknown
VU

Large Shaggy Bee

Panurgus banksianus

Unknown
VU

Red-horned Mini-miner

Andrena nanula

Unknown
Small Scabious Mining BeeVU

Small Scabious Mining Bee

Andrena marginata

Unknown

Threatened in Åland Islands

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Scarce BlackneckCR

Scarce Blackneck

Lygephila craccae

Unknown
EN

knopphodeedderkopp

Walckenaeria nodosa

Unknown
EN

Dolichopus notatus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Red-backed Mining Bee classified as Endangered?
Red-backed Mining Bee is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Red-backed Mining Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss of flower-rich grasslands and heathlands through agricultural intensification and urban development. Changes in land management practices, including reduced grazing and the abandonment of traditional farming methods, have led to habitat degradation and the loss of crucial nesting sites in sandy soils. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered flowering phenology of key food plants, potentially disrupting the species' synchronized emergence with its preferred pollen sources.
Where does Red-backed Mining Bee live?
Red-backed Mining Bee occurs in Åland Islands, Algeria, Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Finland (plus 16 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 Red-backed Mining Bee?
The main threats to Red-backed 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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