Andrena fragilis

Smith, 1853

Fragile Miner Bee, Fragile Dogwood Andrena

Andrena fragilis is a solitary mining bee in the Andrenidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from the northeastern United States including Vermont. The belongs to a large of ground-nesting bees that excavate tunnels in soil to provision their larvae with pollen. Like other Andrena species, it is active in spring and contributes to pollination of early-flowering plants.

Andrena fragilis 4029062 by cwwood. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Andrena fragilis m2 by USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory. Used under a Public domain license.

Andrena fragilis m by USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Andrena fragilis: /ænˈdriːnə ˈfrædʒɪlɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

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Habitat

Ground-nesting solitary requiring bare or sparsely vegetated soil for nest excavation. Based on characteristics, likely prefers well-drained, sunny soil patches similar to other Andrena that create 'bee banks' or nest in compacted bare ground.

Distribution

North America; specifically recorded from Vermont, United States. Distribution appears limited based on available observation data.

Seasonality

Spring-active , consistent with the Andrena which primarily flies during spring months.

Host Associations

Cornus - pollen source 'fragile dogwood andrena' suggests association with dogwood (Cornus) for pollen collection

Life Cycle

Solitary with ground-nesting : females excavate tunnels in soil, provision individual with pollen and nectar, lay , and seal cells. Larvae develop underground, pupate, and emerge as the following spring. No ; each female independently provisions her own nest.

Behavior

Females nest solitarily but may aggregate in suitable patches. Males typically emerge before females and patrol nesting areas seeking mates. Nesting involves digging vertical or angled burrows with lateral .

Ecological Role

of spring-flowering plants, likely including dogwood (Cornus) based on . Contributes to function through pollen transfer and as prey/ for parasitic bees and other insects.

Human Relevance

Contributes to pollination services in natural and potentially managed landscapes. May benefit from management that maintains bare ground patches, similar to conservation efforts for other ground-nesting solitary bees.

Similar Taxa

Other Andrena speciesAndrena is a large with many morphologically similar spring-active mining bees; precise identification requires examination of microscopic characters such as facial foveae, propodeal sculpturing, and genitalia

More Details

Conservation context

Ground-nesting solitary bees like A. fragilis are increasingly recognized as requiring specific management. Research on related shows that bare ground creation through mechanical disturbance or conservation grazing can significantly improve nesting opportunities for mining bees.