Photo: gailhampshire / CC BY 2.0
Andrena fuscipes
Heather Mining Bee
A late-flying mining bee (8–11 mm) with dense orange-brown thoracic hair and very broad, yellowish-brown abdominal hair bands. It is oligolectic on heather (Calluna vulgaris, Ericaceae), appearing from late July to September when the heather blooms. It nests solitarily in sandy soils in heathlands and moorlands. In Switzerland it is confined to a few areas in Grisons, Valais, and Ticino where Calluna heath persists. Swiss Red List: Endangered (EN).
Species Facts
- Size
- 8–11 mm
- Flight Period
- July to September
- Nesting
- Ground
- Specialization
- Heather (Ericaceae)
- Abundance
- 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 Red List: EN
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)
