Gwynne's Mining Bee - Andrena bicolor
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Species Description
Widespread and fairly frequent throughout the UK but mainly in the south. Habitat includes: gardens, parks, calcareous grassland, woodland rides / coppice's etc. Flight period: Two generations - March to June and June to August. Flowers visited: Barren Strawberry, English Bluebell, Butterbur, Buttercups, Daffodils, Daisy, Dandelions, Germander Speedwell, Common Hawthorn, Marsh Marigold, Mustards, Primrose, Willows. I've also seen them on Grape Hyacinths, Ivy-leaved Toad Flax and Crocus. The summer brood will visit Brambles, Buttercups, Cat's-ears, Cinquefoils, Crane's-bill's, Knapweed's, Lime's (tree), Meadowsweet, Mustard's, Rose's, Thistle's and Willowherb's. Life story: Nests in the ground, usually where the soil is quite soft. The nest is small and is constructed containing a few cells, which the female fills with pollen. A single egg is laid in each cell and the larvae feed on the pollen.