Aster Miner Bee
Andrena asteris
This record describes Andrena asteris (species). Recorded family: Andrenidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Andrenidae (Miner, Fairy, Allied Panurgine, and Oxaeine Bees)
- Subfamily
- Andreninae
- Genus
- Andrena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Minnesota to the New England states, south to Georgia and Mississippi. Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
August to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Asteraceae (Aster and Solidago). The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Its specific epithet refers to Aster, a preferred pollen source, especially late in its flight season after the main bloom of Solidago
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Andrena asteris. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Aster Miner Bee (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , John S. Ascher , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Aster Miner Bee
Where is Aster Miner Bee found?
Range: Minnesota to the New England states, south to Georgia and Mississippi. Discover Life Map
What does Aster Miner Bee eat?
The diet of the Aster Miner Bee includes Asteraceae (Aster and Solidago). The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Aster Miner Bee active?
Aster Miner Bee: seasonal activity - August to October..