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Grey-gastered Mining-bee Andrena tibialis

The Grey-gastered Mining-bee is not very colourful. Like the others it is a springtime species, often seen resting on a leaf, taking a sun bath. Dandelions are its favourite food plants. Like many spring time creatures the best days to photograph it is on a cooler day with sunshine. The animals seek places in the sun to get warm and many are quite approachable. Andrena tibialis is a somewhat smaller species, usually reaching a size of some 7 or 8 mm. The animal is quite hairy, but not strikingly so, for the hairs end in a much lighter colour than they start. The species is found all over Europe, though its status is a bit obscure. Probably the Grey-gastered Mining-bee is a very local species. However there where it accurs it may be almost abundant.