Small Scabious Mining Bee
VU

Small Scabious Mining Bee

Andrena marginata

UnknownDDEU

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

Overview

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

The Small Scabious Mining Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss of flower-rich grasslands and chalk downlands where its host plant, Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis), thrives. Agricultural intensification has eliminated many of the traditional hay meadows and unimproved grasslands essential for both the bee's nesting sites and foraging resources. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the timing of flowering periods, potentially disrupting the synchronization between the bee's emergence and the availability of its preferred nectar sources.

Threat summary

Habitat

This specialist mining bee inhabits chalk downlands, limestone grasslands, and traditional hay meadows across southern and central England. The species requires areas with abundant Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) for foraging and suitable bare or sparsely vegetated ground for excavating its underground nests.

Other threatened species in Andrenidae

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Large Shaggy Bee

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Hawksbeard Mining BeeVU

Hawksbeard Mining Bee

Andrena fulvago

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Threatened in Andorra

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Lygephila craccae

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Small Scabious Mining Bee classified as Vulnerable?
Small Scabious 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 Scabious Mining Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss of flower-rich grasslands and chalk downlands where its host plant, Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis), thrives. Agricultural intensification has eliminated many of the traditional hay meadows and unimproved grasslands essential for both the bee's nesting sites and foraging resources. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the timing of flowering periods, potentially disrupting the synchronization between the bee's emergence and the availability of its preferred nectar sources.
Where does Small Scabious Mining Bee live?
Small Scabious Mining Bee occurs in Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Croatia (plus 26 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 Scabious Mining Bee?
The main threats to Small Scabious 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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