Spring Beauty Mining Bee
Andrena erigeniae
This record describes Andrena erigeniae (species). Recorded family: Andrenidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Male S8 distinctively bifurcating at its apex. Facial foveae thin. Host plant has pink pollen. Visits flowers of Claytonia virginica and other Claytonia spp. for pollen. It also visits Erigenia bulbosa and other flowers for nectar.
Wikipedia reference for Andrena erigeniae: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrena_erigeniae.
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 New York, south to North Carolina and Georgia. Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
March to May.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: It is an oligolege of spring beauties Claytonia including C. virginica despite being named for a different plant Erigenia , often found near spring beauties. 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: Robertson, 1891. Named for a plant other than its pollen host.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Andrena erigeniae. 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 Spring Beauty Mining Bee (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by John S. Ascher , hg , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Spring Beauty Mining Bee
What is Spring Beauty Mining Bee?
Spring Beauty Mining Bee (Andrena erigeniae) is a species in the family Andrenidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Spring Beauty Mining Bee?
Female 8 mm, male 7-8 mm
How do you identify Spring Beauty Mining Bee?
Male S8 distinctively bifurcating at its apex. Facial foveae thin. Host plant has pink pollen.
Where is Spring Beauty Mining Bee found?
Range: Minnesota to New York, south to North Carolina and Georgia. Discover Life Map
What does Spring Beauty Mining Bee eat?
The diet of the Spring Beauty Mining Bee includes It is an oligolege of spring beauties Claytonia including C. virginica despite being named for a different plant Erigenia , often found near spring beauties. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Spring Beauty Mining Bee active?
Spring Beauty Mining Bee: seasonal activity - March to May..