Andrena bicolor

This is a small solitary mining bee. The females are about 9 to 11 mm, and the males are slightly smaller. Females have back hairs on the face, gingery hairs on the top of the thorax and at the front of each side - the remainder has black hairs. The abdomen is black but with pale brown hairs forming bands across the base of each segment. The legs are mostly black with an orange-brown pollen brush on the hind legs. Males are similar but slimmer and lack the pollen brush.

females, males

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Found in various habitats including gardens, grassland and open woodland areas.

It has two generations per year, being on the wing from March to May and then from late June to August.

They nest in the ground, usually where the soil is quite soft. A small nest is constructed containing a few cells, which the female fills with pollen. A single egg is laid in each cell and the larvae feed on the pollen.

Fairly frequent and found throughout Britain, though mostly southern.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.