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Gray mining bee

The ashy mining bee or grey mining bee, Andrena cineraria, is a European species of the sand bee (Andrena) genus.[1][2] Its distinctive colouring makes it one o...
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The ashy mining bee or grey mining bee, Andrena cineraria, is a European species of the sand bee (Andrena) genus.[1][2] Its distinctive colouring makes it one of the most easily recognised of the genus.[3] The females are black, with two broad grey hair bands across the thorax. The male is also black although the thorax is entirely covered with grey hairs.[4] The male has a tuft of white hairs on the lower face and white hairs on all femora while the female has white hairs only on the front femora.[2] The female has twelve segments to their antennae and the male has thirteen.[3]

The ashy mining bee is common and widespread throughout Europe, ranging from Ireland across central Europe and into Scandinavia. They are common throughout the United Kingdom although less frequent in northern Scotland. Generally docile, they are considered safe around children and pets.[4] The ashy mining bee flies from April until early June, most noticeably during the flowering periods of fruit trees,
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