Andrena nitida

Larger than a honeybee with bright, foxy-brown hair on the thorax and a polished black abdomen. Females have patches of white pubescence on the sides of abdominal segments 1 to 3, and males have copious white facial hair.

females, males

Females:

• Larger than a honeybee
• Dense reddish hair on top of thorax
• Shiny black abdomen with pale hair patches on sides of T1-3
• Pollen basket dark-haired

Good quality images are required showing the key ID features and should include a side image. Note that most solitary bees and wasps are challenging to identify and are seldom identifiable from photographs taken in the field. NatureSpot will accept records identified by a recognised local or national expert, or that have been identified via the BWARS’ Facebook page.  If you have obtained this advice, please note the name of the person/organisation identifying the record in the ‘determiner’ field (e.g. ‘Stuart Roberts, BWARS Facebook’) and add the wording received to the comments box.

May be found in a variety of open grassland habitats.

April to June.

This species is fairly frequent throughout southern Britain, becoming scarcer towards southern Yorkshire, its most northerly known county.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.