Andrena erigeniae

Robertson, 1891

Spring Beauty Miner Bee, Spring Beauty Andrena

Andrena erigeniae is a solitary mining to North America, commonly known as the Spring Beauty Miner Bee. The is , with active in spring. Females excavate underground burrows in clay soil, constructing nests with multiple provisioned with pollen and nectar. The species exhibits specialized foraging associated with spring-blooming plants.

Andrena cf erigeniae F (14026419715) by maxson.erin. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Andrena cf erigeniae F (14023213122) by maxson.erin. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Andrena cf erigeniae F (14023224721) by maxson.erin. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Andrena erigeniae: //ænˈdɹiːnə ˌɛɹɪˈdʒɛnɪaɪ//

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Images

Habitat

Nests in soil, creating underground burrows in clay soil substrates. The has been studied in areas with clay soil conditions suitable for excavation.

Distribution

to North America. Presence confirmed in Vermont, United States.

Seasonality

activity occurs in spring. The is , producing one per year.

Life Cycle

(one per year). Females construct and provision individual nests underground. Nests contain multiple arranged in a linear series at the end of burrows, with each cell provisioned with pollen and nectar for larval development.

Behavior

Females excavate vertical or nearly vertical burrows in the ground. The exhibits specialized foraging associated with spring-blooming plants. Solitary nesting; females construct and provision individual nests without cooperative behavior.

More Details

Nest Architecture

Nest are arranged in a linear series at the end of burrows, a distinctive architectural feature of this ' underground nesting strategy.

Research History

Detailed nest biology was documented in a 1978 study that examined excavated nests to understand the ' underground nesting habits and reproductive .