Andrena auricoma

Smith, 1879

Golden-haired Miner Bee

Andrena auricoma, the Golden-haired Miner , is a small solitary mining bee in the . Females measure 8–10 mm in length, while males are smaller at 6–9 mm. The is to the western United States, with its distribution centered in California and relative rarity outside this state. It is a ground-nesting bee that excavates tunnels in soil for .

Andrena auricoma by Melissa McMasters. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Andrena auricoma: /ænˈdrɛnə ɔːˈraɪkoʊmə/

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Identification

Andrena auricoma closely resembles Andrena astragali (the Death Camas Miner ) but is consistently smaller in size. The specific epithet "auricoma" (golden-haired) suggests distinctive golden or yellowish , though detailed morphological descriptions beyond size are not documented in available sources.

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Habitat

Ground-nesting requiring bare, warm, dry soil for tunnel excavation and larval development. As a mining , it nests in cavities underground.

Distribution

Western United States; distribution centered in California, relatively rare elsewhere in the region.

Ecological Role

Likely contributes to of spring-blooming flora within its range, as is characteristic of Andrena , though specific associations are not documented.

Similar Taxa

  • Andrena astragaliVery similar in appearance; distinguished by larger size (A. astragali is larger than A. auricoma)

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Sources and further reading