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Andrenidae

Pronunciation:  [Ann·DREN·i·dee]

Common Name:   Mining bees

Description:   Aandrenids are solitary, ground-nesting bees.   They carry pollen on the hind legs (tibiae and basitarsus).   Females dig long branching tunnels in sandy soil and stock brood cells with pollen balls and nectar.    Most species are brown to black in color.   The abdomen is usually longer than the head and thorax combined.

andrenid04

Spot ID Key Characters:

  1. Front wing with two or three submarginal cells
  2. Two subantennal sutures below each antennal socket
  3. Abdomen usually longer than head and thorax combined
  4. Proboscis short and pointed

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Order:  Hymenoptera