Andrena melliventris

Cresson, 1872

Honey-bellied Andrena, Honey-tailed Miner

Andrena melliventris, commonly known as the honey-bellied andrena or honey-tailed miner, is a of mining bee in the Andrenidae. It is a solitary, ground-nesting found in North America and Central America. As with other Andrena species, it excavates tunnels in soil to create nest provisioned with pollen for its larvae. The species was described by Cresson in 1872.

Andrena melliventris by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Andrena melliventris: /ænˈdriːnə mɛˌlɪˈvɛntrɪs/

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 that requires bare or sparsely vegetated soil for nesting. Based on related Andrena and general of mining bees, it likely nests in well-drained, sunny soil patches.

Distribution

North America and Central America. GBIF records indicate presence in Middle America and North America.

Behavior

Solitary that excavates underground nesting tunnels. Females provision nest with pollen and nectar for larval development.

Ecological Role

. As a mining bee, it contributes to pollination of wildflowers and potentially agricultural crops in its range.

More Details

Nomenclature Note

The has two commonly used English names: 'honey-bellied andrena' (used in Wikipedia) and 'honey-tailed miner' (preferred on iNaturalist). Both refer to the same species, Andrena melliventris Cresson, 1872.

Data Limitations

Detailed biological information for this specific is sparse in the available sources. Most information must be inferred from general Andrena or related species, and has been marked as per guidelines.