Andrena bradleyi

Viereck, 1907

Bradley's Mining Bee, Bradley's Andrena

Andrena bradleyi is a solitary mining bee in the Andrenidae, commonly known as Bradley's Mining Bee or Bradley's Andrena. It is a ground-nesting native to North America. As a member of the large Andrena, it exhibits the typical traits of mining bees: excavating tunnels in soil to create nest provisioned with pollen and nectar for its larvae. The species was described by Viereck in 1907.

Andrena bradleyi by (c) Matt Pelikan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Pelikan. Used under a CC-BY license.Photograph of intertegular distance for Andrena wilkella Kirby (Andrenidae) - pone.0151482.g001 (cropped) by Daniel P. Cariveau, Geetha K. Nayak, Ignasi Bartomeus, Joseph Zientek, John S. Ascher, Jason Gibbs, Rachael Winfree. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.Photographs of intertegular distance (IT), glossa, prementum and proboscis in bees - pone.0151482.g001 by Daniel P. Cariveau, Geetha K. Nayak, Ignasi Bartomeus, Joseph Zientek, John S. Ascher, Jason Gibbs, Rachael Winfree. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Andrena bradleyi: /ænˈdriːnə ˈbrædli.aɪ/

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Habitat

As a ground-nesting mining bee, Andrena bradleyi requires bare or sparsely vegetated soil for nest excavation. Based on the of related Andrena , suitable likely includes areas with warm, well-drained soils that receive adequate sunlight—conditions necessary for larval development. Such habitats may include forest edges, open woodlands, grasslands, or disturbed areas with exposed soil.

Distribution

North America. Distribution records include the United States, specifically Vermont.

Life Cycle

As a solitary in the Andrenidae, Andrena bradleyi likely follows the typical mining bee : females excavate underground tunnels with multiple , each provisioned with pollen and nectar collected from floral sources, lay a single per cell, then seal the cell. Larvae develop within these cells, pupate, and emerge as the following season. Males typically emerge before females.

Behavior

Females are solitary nesters, excavating individual burrows in soil. Multiple females may nest in where soil conditions are favorable. Males patrol nesting areas seeking emerging females for mating.

Ecological Role

As a solitary , Andrena bradleyi contributes to pollination of flowering plants in its . Mining bees are important of spring-blooming wildflowers and may visit agricultural crops.

Human Relevance

Like other native bees, Andrena bradleyi provides services through pollination. The may benefit from conservation practices that maintain bare ground , such as controlled disturbance regimes or rotational management of nesting areas.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Described by Henry Lorenz Viereck in 1907. The specific epithet 'bradleyi' likely honors an individual, possibly a collector or entomologist associated with early North American research.

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