Andrena scotica

Chocolate Mining Bee

Andrena scotica, Chocolate Mining Bee, is a solitary bee, nesting in warm, dry places such as under loose paving stones. It is on the wing from April to August and forages on a wide range of flowers. It is slightly larger than a Honey Bee.


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Andrena scotica male
Male
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Andrena scotica female
Female
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Andrena scotica female
Female
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Andrena scotica on Angelica
Several bees
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Andrena scotica on Cotoneaster
Female
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Nomda marshamella, a cleptoparasite
Cleptoparasite

Photograph detail


Slide 1: Andrena scotica, Chocolate Mining Bee. Male resting on a cultivated Ivy leaf. Garden in Redmire. May.


Slide 2: Andrena scotica, Chocolate Mining Bee. Female foraging on Angelica sylvestris. Garden in Redmire. June.


Slide 3: Andrena scotica, Chocolate Mining Bee. Female foraging on Angelica sylvestris. Garden in Redmire. June.


Slide 4: Andrena scotica, Chocolate Mining Bee. Several individuals foraging on Angelica sylvestris. Garden in Redmire. June.


Slide 5: Andrena scotica, Chocolate Mining Bee. Female foraging on Cotoneaster horizontalis. Garden in Redmire. June.


Slide 6: Nomada marshamella, Marsham's Nomad Bee, a cletoparasite of Andrena scotica. Cleptoparasites lay their eggs in the nests of the host species. Garden in Redmire. June.