Hairy-banded Mining Bee
Andrena hirticincta
This record describes Andrena hirticincta (species). Recorded family: Andrenidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Most of its pubescence has a green-yellow tinge
Wikipedia reference for Andrena hirticincta: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrena_hirticincta.
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 and Nova Scotia, south to North Carolina and Georgia. Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
August to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: A Solidago specialist. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Andrena hirticincta. 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 Hairy-banded Mining Bee (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , John S. Ascher , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Hairy-banded Mining Bee
What is Hairy-banded Mining Bee?
Hairy-banded Mining Bee (Andrena hirticincta) is a species in the family Andrenidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Hairy-banded Mining Bee?
Female: 11-13 mm. Male 8.5-10 mm.
How do you identify Hairy-banded Mining Bee?
Most of its pubescence has a green-yellow tinge
Where is Hairy-banded Mining Bee found?
Range: Minnesota to the New England states and Nova Scotia, south to North Carolina and Georgia. Discover Life Map
What does Hairy-banded Mining Bee eat?
The diet of the Hairy-banded Mining Bee includes A Solidago specialist. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Hairy-banded Mining Bee active?
Hairy-banded Mining Bee: seasonal activity - August to October..