Andrena nivalis

Smith, 1853

Snowy Mining Bee, Snow Miner Bee

Andrena nivalis, commonly known as the snowy mining bee or snow miner , is a solitary mining bee in the Andrenidae. It is native to North America and is active in early spring. Like other Andrena species, it nests in the ground and provisions its with pollen and nectar.

Andrena nivalis by (c) USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Andrena nivalis by (c) USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Andrena nivalis, stylopid, U, Cocos Co., NH, back 2015-07-13-15.57.01 ZS PMax (cropped2) by Sam Droege. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Andrena nivalis: /ænˈdriːnə nɪˈveɪlɪs/

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

Identification

A. nivalis can be distinguished from other Andrena by its early spring period and association with cooler conditions. Specific morphological characters distinguishing it from similar early-season Andrena species require expert examination.

Images

Habitat

Ground-nesting in soil, with preference for bare or sparsely vegetated ground that receives direct sunlight. Nests in with other individuals of the same .

Distribution

North America. Documented from Vermont and other parts of the United States.

Seasonality

Early spring activity, with emerging and flying during cool conditions when snow may still be present or recently melted.

Life Cycle

Solitary with . Females excavate underground tunnels with multiple , provision each cell with pollen and nectar, lay a single per cell, and seal the cells. Larvae develop underground, pupate, and overwinter as in the nest before emerging the following spring. Males typically emerge before females.

Behavior

Nests in where multiple females utilize suitable patches of bare soil. Females forage for pollen and nectar to provision . Males patrol nesting areas seeking emerging females for mating.

Ecological Role

of early spring-blooming plants. As a ground-nesting , contributes to soil aeration through nesting activities.

Similar Taxa

  • Andrena tarsataBoth are mining bees with ground-nesting habits, but A. tarsata is restricted to European heathlands and specializes on Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) pollen.
  • Andrena barbilabrisBoth are spring-active Andrena , but A. barbilabris is a European species associated with sandy and has distinct morphological features including prominent facial hairs.

Tags

Sources and further reading