Banks' Miner Bee
Andrena banksi
This record describes Andrena banksi (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
New Jersey to Florida and Texas Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
March to May
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Recorded on Prunus angustifolia . 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: Author: Malloch, 1917. Named in honor of Nathan Banks.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Andrena banksi. 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 Banks' Miner Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Banks' Miner Bee
How big is Banks' Miner Bee?
Female 11 mm. Male 8 mm.
Where is Banks' Miner Bee found?
Range: New Jersey to Florida and Texas Discover Life Map
What does Banks' Miner Bee eat?
The diet of the Banks' Miner Bee includes Recorded on Prunus angustifolia . The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Banks' Miner Bee active?
Banks' Miner Bee: seasonal activity - March to May.