Photo: Bartosz Czołczyński / CC0
Andrena vaga
Grey-backed Mining Bee
A large, early-spring mining bee with a distinctive white-grey hairy thorax and a glossy black, sparsely haired abdomen. It is strictly specialised on willow (Salix) pollen and nests in enormous aggregations of up to several thousand individuals in sandy or loamy soils, often along riverbanks. Males patrol low over the nesting area in dense swarms. Swiss Red List: Least Concern (LC).
Species Facts
- Size
- 11–14 mm
- Flight Period
- March to May
- Nesting
- Ground
- Specialization
- Willow/Salix
- Abundance
- Common
- Family
- Andrenidae
External Sources
This data has been cross-referenced with national sources:
Data Source & Copyright
| Category | Source / Author | License |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Bartosz Czołczyński | 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)
