Grey-patched Mining-bee Andrena nitida
The Grey-patched Mining-bee is not that difficult to identify. Just look at the black head, the rusty brown, hairy thorax, the gloomingly black, nearly hairless abdomen and the grey patch on the sides of the body. In Western and Central Europe there are no similar species. But be careful when travelling to warmer parts of Europe! Several similar species are in existence over there! The Grey-patched Mining-bee too is quite a big mining bee, even though its length hardly ever exceeds 11 mm. We are not sure about it status in the UK, but probably it is a common species all over the British Isles, but never appearing in great numbers. Like so many mining bees it is a springtime species, appearing in April and May, even though sometimes still seen in June. It is not very choosy about the flowers it visits, but buttercups are among its favourites.
