Andrena bicolor – Gwynne’s Mining Bee

Gwynne’s Mining Bee (Andrena bicolor) is a small bee (less than 1cm long) is pretty common and widespread in the UK and tends to live underground… as is the case with many ‘mining bees’ – in areas where the soil is sufficiently soft to excavate a nest.

As with most ‘true bees’ it is a pollen collector as evidenced by the pollen carried on the legs in this picture.