Milwaukee Miner Bee
Andrena milwaukeensis
This record describes Andrena milwaukeensis (species). Recorded family: Andrenidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
In females, combination of elongate fox-colored fur coat extending to basal metasomal terga (variable) and black tibial scopa is distinctive Often encountered, but rarely in large numbers
Wikipedia reference for Andrena milwaukeensis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrena_milwaukeensis.
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
Habitat
Usually woodlands
Geographic Range
Widespread across NA Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
Mar - Aug
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Includes apples. 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: Andrena milwaukeensis Graenicher, 1903 Named after the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where discovered by its describer Graenicher
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Andrena milwaukeensis. 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 Milwaukee Miner Bee (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by John S. Ascher , hg , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Milwaukee Miner Bee
What is Milwaukee Miner Bee?
Milwaukee Miner Bee (Andrena milwaukeensis) is a species in the family Andrenidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Milwaukee Miner Bee?
smaller than somewhat similar Andrena (Melandrena) such as A. vicina and A. dunningi
How do you identify Milwaukee Miner Bee?
In females, combination of elongate fox-colored fur coat extending to basal metasomal terga (variable) and black tibial scopa is distinctive
Where is Milwaukee Miner Bee found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Usually woodlands |
| Range | Widespread across NA Discover Life Map |
What does Milwaukee Miner Bee eat?
The diet of the Milwaukee Miner Bee includes Includes apples. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Milwaukee Miner Bee active?
Milwaukee Miner Bee: seasonal activity - Mar - Aug.