Small Gorse Mining Bee
VU

Small Gorse Mining Bee

Andrena ovatula

UnknownNTEU

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

Overview

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

The Small Gorse Mining Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss of gorse-dominated heathland and coastal habitats across its limited range in Britain and Ireland. Agricultural intensification and urban development have fragmented its specialized nesting sites, while the decline of its primary pollen source, gorse (Ulex species), through habitat management changes has reduced foraging opportunities. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered flowering phenology of gorse, potentially disrupting the bee's synchronized emergence with its food plants.

Threat summary

Habitat

This specialist mining bee inhabits gorse-rich heathlands, coastal dunes, and scrubland areas where it constructs underground nests in sandy or well-drained soils. The species shows strong fidelity to areas with abundant flowering gorse (Ulex species), particularly common gorse and western gorse, which provide its primary pollen source.

Other threatened species in Andrenidae

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Graue Lockensandbiene

Andrena nycthemera

Unknown
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Large Shaggy Bee

Panurgus banksianus

Unknown
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Red-horned Mini-miner

Andrena nanula

Unknown
Small Scabious Mining BeeVU

Small Scabious Mining Bee

Andrena marginata

Unknown

Threatened in Algeria

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
CR

Sahara Killifish

Apricaphanius saourensis

Declining
Blind SnailVU

Blind Snail

Cecilioides acicula

Unknown
EN

Chafarinas' Skink

Chalcides parallelus

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Small Gorse Mining Bee classified as Vulnerable?
Small Gorse 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 Small Gorse Mining Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss of gorse-dominated heathland and coastal habitats across its limited range in Britain and Ireland. Agricultural intensification and urban development have fragmented its specialized nesting sites, while the decline of its primary pollen source, gorse (Ulex species), through habitat management changes has reduced foraging opportunities. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered flowering phenology of gorse, potentially disrupting the bee's synchronized emergence with its food plants.
Where does Small Gorse Mining Bee live?
Small Gorse Mining Bee occurs in Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, and Bulgaria (plus 38 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 Small Gorse Mining Bee?
The main threats to Small Gorse 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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