Best Mining Bee
Perdita minima is a solitary fairy bee native to the southwestern United States, holding the distinction of being the smallest bee species in the world at 2 millimeters.
Why this score?
Claimed status among the world's smallest bees gives it exceptional novelty, supported by delicate specialization and strong educational appeal.
Scoring methodology
Andrena hattorfiana is a specialist mining bee native to Europe. It’s notable for its exclusive reliance on field scabious flowers as a food source and its critically endangered status. This bee plays a vital role in pollination within its limited habitat and is of interest to entomologists studying...
Andrena cineraria is a species of mining bee found across Europe. It’s notable for its distinctive ashy-grey coloration, particularly on the thorax and head of female bees. These bees are ground nesters and play a role in pollinating various wildflowers. They are primarily studied by entomologists a...
Andrena fulva is a tawny mining bee native to Europe. It’s recognized by its distinctive vibrant orange coloration on female bees. These solitary bees construct nests within sandy or loamy soil, primarily in lawns and meadows, playing a vital role in pollination. They are of interest to naturalists,...
Andrena agilissima is a species of mining bee found throughout the Mediterranean region. This particular bee is notable for its distinctive black and white striped abdomen and specialized nesting behavior within sandy soils near coastal cliffs and riverbanks. It plays a role in pollinating mustard p...
Andrena cineraria, commonly known as the ashy mining bee, is a solitary insect found across the Palearctic region. It is visually distinguished by its striking black and grey hair, giving it an ashen appearance. Females excavate nesting burrows in the ground, frequently in sandy soils, and often for...
Why this score?
Handsome monochrome patterning, conspicuous nesting colonies, and broad Palearctic familiarity support a strong reputation among accessible wild bees.
Scoring methodology
*Andrena florea*, commonly known as the bryony mining bee, is a solitary bee species native to Europe. It is notable for its strict oligolecty, meaning females exclusively forage for pollen from white bryony (*Bryonia dioica*), a climbing poisonous plant. The bee nests in the ground, often digging d...
Why this score?
Strict bryony specialization, attractive reddish coloring, and recognizable European distribution support strong appreciation among naturalists.
Scoring methodology
Andrena astragali is a species of solitary mining bee in the genus Andrena, described in 1914 and native to western North America. Females of this species are oligolectic, gathering pollen from a narrow range of host plants, and are noted for collecting pollen from Toxicoscordion death camas, a plan...
Why this score?
Remarkable tolerance of toxic death camas pollen provides unusual evolutionary interest and a memorable specialist ecology.
Scoring methodology
Dasypoda hirtipes, commonly known as the Pantaloon Bee, is a solitary bee species native to Europe. It belongs to the Melittidae family and is notable for its distinctive orange hairs on its hind legs – a trait that gives it its name. These mining bees create deep underground nests where they collec...
Why this score?
Long orange leg hairs make it famous and visually distinctive; strong public appeal among solitary bees.
Scoring methodology
The Tawny Mining Bee *Andrena fulva* is a solitary bee found across Europe. Females possess distinctive reddish-orange coloration, used for species recognition. These bees create underground nests within grassy areas and lawns. They are important pollinators, particularly valued by gardeners and eco...
Why this score?
Bright orange females, common spring emergence, and garden familiarity give strong public recognition.
Scoring methodology
Andrena vaga, commonly known as the grey-backed mining bee, is a solitary bee species found across Europe. It is oligolectic, meaning females collect pollen almost exclusively from willow (Salix) species to provision their nests. The species forms dense nesting aggregations in sandy or gravelly soil...
The ashy mining bee, Andrena cineraria, is a solitary ground-nesting bee found across much of Europe and parts of Asia. Females are readily recognized by a black body crossed by two broad bands of pale grey hair, while males are slimmer and more uniformly haired. Each female excavates a burrow with...
Why this score?
Striking black and grey pattern makes it one of the most recognizable mining bees.
Scoring methodology
Andrena flavipes, commonly called the yellow-legged mining bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee with a broad distribution across the Palearctic region. Females excavate individual nests in soil, although many nests may occur close together in loose aggregations where conditions are suitable. The sp...
Andrena clarkella is an early-spring mining bee found across Europe and North America. It is a specialist pollinator, foraging primarily on willow blossoms for nectar and pollen. The bee nests in the ground, often in sandy soils, and is active from March to May.
Andrena erigeniae is a species of solitary mining bee native to North America, first described by Charles Robertson in 1891. The bee is oligolectic, meaning it forages primarily from flowers of spring beauty plants in the genus Claytonia. Like other Andrena species, it nests in the ground and is act...
Why this score?
Precise spring-beauty specialization and synchronized emergence offer an elegant ecological relationship valued by native-bee specialists.
Scoring methodology
Andrena haemorrhoa, commonly known as the early mining bee, is a solitary bee species widely distributed across Europe. As a spring-flying insect, it typically emerges early in the season to forage on the nectar and pollen of flowering trees and plants. The bee is physically identified by distinctiv...
Andrena bicolor, commonly known as Gwynne's mining bee, is a solitary bee species first described by Danish entomologist Johann Christian Fabricius in 1775. Females excavate nesting burrows in sandy or light soils, often forming aggregations where many females nest in the same area though each maint...
Why this score?
Common mining bee with broad European recognition and early-season visibility; solid naturalist reputation and frequent records.
Scoring methodology
Andrena praecox is a solitary mining bee found across the Palearctic region, first described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1763. It is one of the earliest bee species to emerge in spring, typically active from March, and females collect pollen almost exclusively from willow (Salix) blossoms, making...
Why this score?
Early seasonal activity and tight willow association make it ecologically distinctive and familiar to European bee observers.
Scoring methodology
The Grey Mining Bee (Andrena vaga) is a solitary insect belonging to the Andrenidae family. It is easily recognized by its striking, dense grey hair and early spring emergence, making it one of the first bees to appear as temperatures rise. The species is a pollen specialist, or oligolege, that reli...
Why this score?
Large grey willow specialist with early spring value; respected natural-history reputation.
Scoring methodology
Panurgus calcaratus is a species of ground-nesting mining bee belonging to the family Andrenidae. Native to Europe and first described in 1763, the species is recognizable by the pale hair on the males' hind legs. Unlike social bees, these solitary insects often form large communal nesting aggregati...
Why this score?
Large communal nesting aggregations and characteristic yellow pollen loads make it engaging, though geographically limited recognition restrains its score.
Scoring methodology
The orange-tailed mining bee, Andrena haemorrhoa, is a solitary ground-nesting bee found across much of Europe and active mainly during spring. Females are recognizable by the reddish-orange hairs at the tip of the abdomen, while males are slimmer and less conspicuously marked. The species visits ma...
Why this score?
Widespread spring mining bee with clear orange tail; solid pollinator reputation but less iconic.
Scoring methodology
Andrena fuscipes is a Palearctic species of mining bee described by William Kirby in 1802. Like other members of the genus Andrena, it is a solitary ground-nesting bee. This species is notably oligolectic, meaning it forages primarily on a specific type of plant; in this case, it has a close associa...
Why this score?
Strong heather specialization and heathland conservation relevance support a good reputation, despite limited appeal outside its habitat.
Scoring methodology
Andrena fulvago is a solitary mining bee species belonging to the family Andrenidae. It is widely distributed across Europe, where it nests in the ground in sandy or loose soils. This species is recognized for its specific foraging behavior, as females almost exclusively collect pollen from yellow-f...
Why this score?
Strong yellow composite specialization and wide European distribution support solid ecological regard, despite modest visual and cultural prominence.
Scoring methodology
Panurgus banksianus is a solitary mining bee species belonging to the family Andrenidae, native to Europe. First described in 1802, these bees are recognized for their robust, shaggy appearance and their specialized foraging habits. They are crucial pollinators for various late-blooming yellow compo...
Why this score?
Late season pollination and floral specialization are valued, but resemblance to related species and low mainstream visibility limit distinction.
Scoring methodology
The Yellow-legged Mining Bee (Andrena flavipes) is a solitary, ground-nesting bee species widely distributed across Europe. It is identifiable by the dense, bright yellow or orange pollen-collecting hairs on its hind legs, which are particularly prominent on females. The species is known to nest in...
Why this score?
Bright pollen hairs and expanding range give recognition; solid but not top-tier solitary bee.
Scoring methodology
Andrena nitida, commonly known as the grey-patched mining bee, is a solitary bee species prevalent across Europe. It typically emerges during the spring season and is recognized by its distinct physical characteristics, which include bright fox-red hairs covering its thorax and a prominent white ban...
Andrena asteris is a species of solitary mining bee native to North America. Originally described by entomologist Charles Robertson in 1891, the insect belongs to the family Andrenidae. It is distinguished by its oligolectic foraging behavior, meaning it specifically collects pollen from asters and...
Why this score?
Aster specialization supports late-season pollination value, though the species lacks the exceptional traits of top-rated mining bees.
Scoring methodology
Andrena nigroaenea, commonly known as the buffish mining bee, is a solitary bee species belonging to the family Andrenidae. It is widely distributed across Europe and active in spring, typically from March to May. Females construct nesting burrows in the ground, often in sandy or loose soils. The sp...
Why this score?
Large buff-haired spring bee with good pollination role; not as memorable as tawny or ashy mining bees.
Scoring methodology
Andrena nigroaenea, commonly known as the buffish mining bee, is a solitary bee species widely distributed across Europe. Emerging in the spring, females excavate nesting burrows in the ground, often in sandy soils or lawns. They are important pollinators for various fruit trees and are particularly...
Andrena marginata, commonly known as the small scabious mining bee, is a species of solitary bee native to Europe. First described by the zoologist Johann Christian Fabricius in 1776, the insect is recognized by the distinctive yellow margins on its abdomen. As a specialist forager, it relies almost...
Why this score?
Specialist mining bee linked to scabious habitats; conservation and habitat-interest signals lift reputation despite narrower range.
Scoring methodology
