Images

Regionally common to sometimes even abundant, this is one of the larger Andrena of the spring. It can occur in almost any habitat, gathering pollen from a wide variety of the hugely abundant pollen and nectar sources that occur in Woodlands and surrounding scrub lands.

Regionally common to sometimes even abundant, this is one of the larger Andrena of the spring. It can occur in almost any habitat, gathering pollen from a wide variety of the hugely abundant pollen and nectar sources that occur in Woodlands and surrounding scrub lands.

Andrena barbara, female

Andrena barbara, female

Andrena barbara, female

A rather pollen riddled specimen, this uncommon (at least in Maryland) species is uniquely outfit with a long-strap like labral process...for those of you who are technically inclined.

A rather pollen riddled specimen, this uncommon (at least in Maryland) species is uniquely outfit with a long-strap like labral process...for those of you who are technically inclined.

One of quite a number of spring Andrena that occur throughout North America, this one is Andrena barbilabris. It collects pollen from quite a number of different plant groups, doesn't seem to have a specialty among them.

Andrena barbilabris "“ A male captured in Howard County, Picture taken by Brooke Alexander

Andrena barbilabris "“ A male captured in Howard County, Picture taken by Brooke Alexander

A female collected by Tracy Zarillo from the New Haven area

Andrena bisalicis, female, Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, SC, Chesterfield County

Andrena bisalicis, female, Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, SC, Chesterfield County

Andrena bisalicis, female, Maryland

Andrena braccata

For some reason I really like the lighting on the face of this specimen... eerie, the bee contemplating the decline of its own kind, that sort of thing. But I depart...Here is Andrena bradleyi, the Long-faced Mining Bee, a vaccinium (blueberry) specialist. If you hang out around blueberries then you might find this bee...the flowering plants that is.

From a study of woodland bees in the mid-Atlantic area comes this small, somewhat obscure, Andrena found in a woodland in Caroline County, Maryland. For some reason, a number of males in the genus Andrena have yellow on their faces, while the females do not.

A dark spring Andrena mining bee seen throughout the East in woodlands and the edge of woodlands foraging on the blooms of trees and the flowers that appear in early spring within rich deciduous woods. Andrena carlini is often the most common Andrena. One of the few bees in this large taxonomic group with dark pollen collecting hairs.

A dark spring Andrena mining bee seen throughout the East in woodlands and the edge of woodlands foraging on the blooms of trees and the flowers that appear in early spring within rich deciduous woods. Andrena carlini is often the most common Andrena. One of the few bees in this large taxonomic group with dark pollen collecting hairs.

A dark spring Andrena mining bee seen throughout the East in woodlands and the edge of woodlands foraging on the blooms of trees and the flowers that appear in early spring within rich deciduous woods. Andrena carlini is often the most common Andrena. One of the few bees in this large taxonomic group with dark pollen collecting hairs.

Of the woodland oriented bees this is regionally the most common one, Andrena carlni, this male is relatively easy tp tell because of the black hairs that line the edges of the eyes and the ocelli that are set back from the back of the head. Photography by Amanda Robinson.