Photo: Michael Knapp / CC BY

Andrena proxima

Early Umbellifer Mining Bee

A medium-sized mining bee (9–11 mm) with a thinly brown-haired thorax and a black abdomen with distinctive lateral white hair patches that do not meet in the middle. It is oligolectic on Apiaceae (umbellifers), foraging on cow parsley, wild carrot, hogweed, ground elder, and other umbellifers. It nests in self-excavated burrows in sandy or loamy soils, often in small aggregations. It is univoltine, flying from May to July (males earlier). In Switzerland it is widespread from lowlands to 2000 m in the Alps, common in meadows, field margins, embankments, and ruderal areas. It is parasitised by the cuckoo bee Nomada conjungens. Swiss Red List: Least Concern (LC).