Photo: gailhampshire / CC BY 2.0
Andrena argentata
Silvery Mining Bee
A small silver-grey mining bee (8–10 mm) with notably pale, whitish-grey hairs and broad white hair bands on the tergite margins. It nests in loose, well-drained sandy soil, often in small aggregations on paths and heathland. Bivoltine with two generations per year. In Switzerland it is critically endangered (CR) and restricted to a few sandy habitats in floodplains, where it depends on dynamic river dynamics.
Species Facts
- Size
- 8–10 mm
- Flight Period
- April to August (bivoltine)
- Nesting
- Ground
- Specialization
- Generalist
- Abundance
- Very rare
- Family
- Andrenidae
External Sources
This data has been cross-referenced with national sources:
Data Source & Copyright
| Category | Source / Author | License |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | gailhampshire | CC BY 2.0 |
| Taxonomy & Distribution | InfoFauna Switzerland | Public data |
| Global Distribution | GBIF | CC BY 4.0 |
Data Quality
Adequate Last audit: 2026-05-22
Completeness: 100%
✓Photo exists✓Traits consistent✓Description quality✓Red List referenced✓Attribution verified
Confidence: 33%
IdentifiabilityLowImage confidenceLowImage qualityMediumTrait coherenceHigh
Risk flags
Hard to identify
Difficult to identify genus (andrena)
