Species Account

Andrena labiata  Fabricius, 1781
Girdled Mining Bee
Aculeata: Andreninae

National status: Na
Essex RDB: Listed
Threat: Essex Threatened  




Species Habitat Data

Additional Phenology Data


Interpretation of distribution maps
 
Taxonomic group: bees and wasps (Aculeata) - County data   
forages on Veronica chamaedryas

This mining bee is recorded widely in England north to Warwickshire but very local. The bee has declined significantly and has apparently disappeared from many former parts of its range. It is generally very scarce in its former strongholds such as Devon, the London district and nearby Surrey Commons. The bee is known from a wide variety of habitats including heathland, grasslands, open woodland, coastal landslips and soft rock cliffs (Falk, 1991b). There is a close and possibly obligate association with germander speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys, which is the main pollen source, but other flowers are recorded, probably mostly as nectar resources. Nest burrows are dug in sandy banks and slopes in sunny situations. Large nesting aggregations appear to be unusual and the normal nesting habits are as isolated individuals or small groups. The species is the host of the RDB1 cleptoparasitic bee Nomada guttulata. References
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