This small bee exhibits seasonal dimorphism. Following a review of the British Micrandrena, Perkins (1914) considered that individuals of the spring generation were a distinct species, Andrena parvula (Kirby). He knew the summer generation as Andrena minutula (Kirby). The differences between the broods were based on very subtle differences in surface microsculpture and punctation. The name parvula was later demoted to that of a junior synonym of minutula (Perkins, 1919). This is a very common species but is easily overlooked and sometimes… Read more

This medium-sized Andrena is very similar to the common A. dorsata (Kirby), but has only been recorded three times in Britain, between 1931 and 1951. Records come from Berkshire and Dorset. Despite examining many A. dorsata over forty years the author has not managed to add anything to these records, although he suspects it was this species he filmed visiting oil-seed rape in Hungary during 2012.

A distinctive, medium-sized Andrena, the female having a coat of golden hairs on the last two tergites. It shares this feature with the slightly smaller A. fulvago (Christ), but has dark hind tibiae, rather than pale ones. The male is one of the small group which have bright yellow markings on the clypeus. This species may be quite plentiful where it occurs, usually, but not exclusively, on sandy soils, but is decidedly local.

More pictures and notes can be found on Steven Falk's Flickr site.

The females of this medium-sized Andrena are quite distinctive, with the gaster having a terminal covering of bright golden-yellow hairs, a feature they share with only a few other British species. The males, on the other hand are, like most male Andrena, quite unremarkable, looking at first glance like those of
A. chrysosceles (Kirby), but readily told apart by the lack of yellow facial markings and the fact that they fly rather later in the year.

This large Andrena is one of a group of three (A. helvola, A. fucata Smith and A. synadelpha Perkins) which are quite similar in appearance, phenology and habitat preferences (all found most often associated with clearings in deciduous woodland during May and June). The males are often seen visiting the flowers of wood spurge, the females at those of hawthorn and field maple. Females of all species have gasters which sport bands of brown pubescence, differing mostly in the density of the hairs.

This medium-sized, spring-flying Andrena is strongly associated with loose, dry sandy soils. The females are quite colourful when fresh, but soon become dowdy. The males, which race over the surface of loose sand in the sun, wear out even more quickly and a bright silver-grey insect rapidly becomes a dull browny-black with few obvious hairs. It is closely related to the similar, but smaller and summer-flying, Andrena argentata Smith.

This small to medium-sized Andrena is strongly associated with loose, dry sandy soils in open, heathy situations. The females are quite colourful when fresh, but soon become dowdy. The males, which race over the surface of loose sand in the sun, wear out even more quickly and a bright silver-grey insect rapidly becomes a dull browny-black with few obvious hairs. It is closely related to the similar, but larger and spring-flying, Andrena barbilabris (Kirby). Although not restricted to visiting ericaceous flowers, the heathland flowering period suits this species very well… Read more

Until recently this name wrongly used for A. confinis in Britain. According to Wood (Wood, BWARS Newsletter Autumn 2022) A. congruens has a northern range limit in central Germany and the name A. confinis should be used for the British fauna from now on.