Photo: Mathew Robinson / CC0
Andrena bucephala
Big-headed Mining Bee
A medium-sized mining bee (12–13 mm) with an elongated black abdomen, fine white hair bands, and brownish-yellow thoracic hairs. Males have a distinctly enlarged head with long mandibles. It is notable for communal nesting: multiple females share a single nest entrance while maintaining separate brood cells. It nests in compact aggregations on sunny banks, often in calcareous grasslands and woodland edges, visiting mainly Rosaceae and Acer trees. Swiss Red List: Least Concern (LC).
Species Facts
- Size
- 12–13 mm
- Flight Period
- April to June
- 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 | Mathew Robinson | CC0 |
| 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)
