All Multimedia

Andrena distans...this girl has been dipping into the wild geranium pollen to feed her babies. Photograph by Dejen Mengis.

A somewhat odd position with its pollen covered (likely geranium pollen) leg out and its head cocked towards us. Photoshopping by Thistle Droege and photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Andrena dunningi. A large dark Andrena. This lovely female, in fresh plumage, is relatively easy to identify simply by the orange brown color of its body hairs along with the nearly black hairs located on its hind legs which it uses to carry pollen to its nest.

Andrena dunningi. A large dark Andrena. This lovely female, in fresh plumage, is relatively easy to identify simply by the orange brown color of its body hairs along with the nearly black hairs located on its hind legs which it uses to carry pollen to its nest.

Know Your Wild Bees Campaign - Andrena female ID...this group can dominate on blooming trees and shrubs in the spring, but smaller numbers occur in the Fall on our composites

A very early spring bee, covered in pollen, collected by a homeowner in Bowie, Maryland

A very early spring bee, covered in pollen, collected by a homeowner in Bowie, Maryland, often found on maples

The head of Andrena fenningeri. A wee spring black mining bee that favors the pollen of Maple. Just one of the many little black things that are out in the spring on flowers that people pay no attention to. Found in the heart of suburbia: Bowie, Maryland. Photo by Wayne Boo.

A very early spring bee, covered in pollen, collected by a homeowner in Bowie, Maryland

From the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee comes Andrena fenningeri, one of the very early spring bees, often associated with red maple bloom. In this case a male. Amber Reese took the picture and Elizabeth Garcia did the shopping.

Another member of the difficult to identify Trachandrena subgenus of Andrena. I think that I have the females sorted out (more or less) but the males...oi! This specimen from Maryland. Picture by Amanda Robinson.

Another member of the difficult to identify Trachandrena subgenus of Andrena. I think that I have the females sorted out (more or less) but the males...oi! This specimen from Maryland. Picture by Amanda Robinson.

Another member of the difficult to identify Trachandrena subgenus of Andrena. I think that I have the females sorted out (more or less) but the males...oi! This specimen from Maryland. Picture by Amanda Robinson.

There are a group of bees in the genus Andrena that form a fairly distinct subgenus called Tracandrena. They are notorious for being difficult to separate out and, in particular, the males all look pretty much the same. I have created a little Excel spreadsheet that help separate out the females, if anyone is interested.

Andrena forbesii from Maryland, thanks to Ann Simpkins for photoshopping

An odd, dark Andrena bee of deep sandy areas that comes out in the middle of summer

An odd, dark Andrena bee of deep sandy areas that comes out in the middle of summer

An odd, dark Andrena bee of deep sandy areas that comes out in the middle of summer

Andrena fulvipennis "“ A very rare species this male was captured in an old sand pit in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This species is only found in deep, permanently sandy locations. Picture taken by Brooke Alexander.

Andrena fulvipennis "“ A very rare species this male was captured in an old sand pit in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This species is only found in deep, permanently sandy locations. Picture taken by Brooke Alexander.

Andrena fulvipennis "“ A very rare species this male was captured in an old sand pit in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This species is only found in deep, permanently sandy locations. Picture taken by Brooke Alexander.