Black & White bees

Posted by on Feb 27, 2011 in Wild bees, Wildlife | 3 comments

Black & White bees

Digging in the garden earlier this week, I disturbed this little black and white bee. She’s most likely an Andrena cineraria or Ashy Mining Bee, a solitary bee that lives in the soil normally emerging in March.

I obviously disturbed her a little bit earlier than normal but as it was a warm, sunny day, we’re hoping she managed to fly away and find somewhere to shelter. She spent a while taking in the heat before cleaning herself and heading off….

(click to enlarge)

Andrena Andrena

Andrena Andrena Andrena

3 comments

  1. Sally
    March 6, 2011

    I just found your page! I am new to gardening (in Florida) and love my bees! After a cold winter my garden is coming back and my poor bees are so hungry. Mostly I have wasps and hornets right now.

  2. H
    April 7, 2011

    Hi. So glad I found your page. I love bees and have had a few masen / mining bees come down our chimney. Was worried to find a black and white one and have spent a while looking it up – thankfully it was just like this little bee. Love to see other kindhearted people looking after / appreciating bees. They’re so lovely. :-)

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