Photo: James K. Lindsey / CC BY-SA 3.0
Andrena barbilabris
Sand Mining Bee
A small mining bee (11–12 mm) that nests in sandy soils, often in large aggregations with dozens of nests per square metre. It is an important early-spring pollinator of willow and fruit trees, foraging on a wide range of spring flowers. It has a distinctive silvery appearance due to long pale hairs and can be observed performing a 'swimming' motion as it burrows into loose sand to reach its nest. The cuckoo bee Nomada alboguttata is its brood parasite. Swiss Red List: Least Concern (LC).
Species Facts
- Size
- 11–12 mm
- Flight Period
- March to July
- Nesting
- Ground
- Specialization
- Generalist
- Abundance
- Rare
- Family
- Andrenidae
External Sources
This data has been cross-referenced with national sources:
Data Source & Copyright
| Category | Source / Author | License |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | James K. Lindsey | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| 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)
