Andrena nitida

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Andrena nitida
female

female

Systematics
Order : Hymenoptera (Hymenoptera)
Bees (Apiformes)
Family : Andrenidae
Genre : Sand bees ( Andrena )
Subgenus : Melandrena
Type : Andrena nitida
Scientific name
Andrena nitida
Müller , 1776

Andrena nitida , also known as the sand bee , is a solitary wild bee fromthe sand bee genus .

features

The animals show a significant sexual dimorphism, as is mostly the case with bees.

female

The females are quite large bees with 13-16 mm. Your head is black. Sometimes the hair is partly light. The thorax is colored light brown to orange on the upper side and light on the underside. The orange-brown color often fades in old animals. The abdomen is black and shiny and only has sparse light hair on the sides. The legs are black and usually have light, otherwise black hair on the thighs; The flocculus and ventral parts of the scopae are bright.

male

male

The males are smaller than the females at 11-14 mm, but still quite stately bees. You have plenty of long, light hair on your forehead. Your thorax is light brown on the top and lightly haired on the underside. The dark legs have light brown hair. The abdomen is shiny black and lightly haired sparsely.

Occurrence

The animals are widespread in Europe. In the north, their distribution area ends in central Sweden and southern Finland. They are also found in North Africa. In the west their distribution extends to Ireland and the Canary Islands and in the east to the Urals. The animals are not very demanding and can be found in many more open habitats.

Way of life

Andrena nitida flies from late March to June. It builds its nests in the ground, also in overgrown areas. The nests are mostly single, less often in groups. The bees are polylectic, so they visit the flowers of many different plants.

Parasites

Nomada goodeniana is a breeding parasite in Andrena nitida . Bombylius major and satellite flies from the genus Leucophora are also possible parasites on the nests. It is also attacked by the fan- winged Stylops melittae . Stylopized animals often have atypical hair.

literature

  • Paul Westrich: The wild bees of Baden-Württemberg. (1989) Stuttgart (E. Ulmer).
  • F. Amiet, M. Herrmann, A. Müller & R. Neumeyer: Apidae 6 Andrena, Melitturga, Panurginus, Panurgus. Fauna Helvetica 26. (2010) SEG CSCF, Neuchâtel.
  • Provisional atlas of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Britain and Ireland Part 6 [1]

Web links

Commons : Andrena nitida  - collection of images, videos and audio files