mining bees

(Andrena Subgenus Cnemidandrena)

Overview
mining bee (Andrena Subgenus Cnemidandrena)
Photo by Alfredo Colon
 

Cnemidandrena is a subgenus of mining bees. There are 50 species in the subgenus Cnemidandrena worldwide, 24 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 5 species in Minnesota.

Little information is available about the biology of this subgenus. The two species most commonly reported in Minnesota are Cloudy-winged mining bee (Andrena nubecula) and hairy-banded mining bee (Andrena hirticincta). Both are late season bees that feed on goldenrods and asters.

 
           
 
Description
 
 

The upper side of the second, third, and fourth abdominal segments (tergites), and usually the first tergite, have a complete band of hairs at the rear. The hairs have dense, short, closely set barbs, giving the bands an opaque or mat appearance.

On the middle legs the fourth segment (tibia) is expanded in the middle. On the middle and hind legs, the spurs at the end of the tibia are long and slender and are curved at the end.

On the forewings there are three submarginal cells.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

 
  4/8/2023      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies)  
 

Suborder

Apocrita (narrow-waisted wasps, ants, and bees)  
 

Infraorder

Aculeata (ants, bees, and stinging wasps)  
 

Superfamily

Apoidea (bees and apoid wasps)  
  Epifamily Anthophila (bees)  
 

Family

Andrenidae (mining bees)  
 

Subfamily

Andreninae (typical mining bees)  
 

Tribe

Andrenini  
  Genus Andrena  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Apache andrena (Andrena apacheorum)

black-headed mining bee (Andrena nigriceps)

blazingstar andrena (Andrena mentzeliae)

British Columbia miner bee (Andrena columbiana)

buff-banded miner bee (Andrena simillima)

Canadian mining bee (Andrena canadensis)

Cloudy-winged mining bee (Andrena nubecula)

Costilla miner bee (Andrena costillensis)

deaf miner bee (Andrena surda)

hairy-banded mining bee (Andrena hirticincta)

heather mining bee (Andrena fuscipes)

mining bee (Andrena robervalensis)

parnassia miner (Andrena parnassiae)

Peckham’s miner bee (Andrena peckhami)

pigmented miner bee (Andrena chromotricha)

planed miner bee (Andrena runcinatae)

shielded miner bee (Andrena scutellinitens)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

This subgenus has no common name. The common name of the genus Andrena is mining bees, and it is used here for convenience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Tergite

The upper (dorsal), hardened plate on a segment of the thorax or abdomen of an arthropod or myriapod.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Alfredo Colon

 
    mining bee (Andrena Subgenus Cnemidandrena)   mining bee (Andrena Subgenus Cnemidandrena)  
           
 
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Other Videos
 
  Cnemidandrena (Andrenidae)
Hymenoptera of North America
 
   
 
About

Aug 13, 2021

This video is intended to assist those who are looking to identify hymenopteran specimens or for anyone who wants to familiarize themselves with the order.

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
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  Alfredo Colon
8/5/2019

Location: Woodbury, MN

mining bee (Andrena Subgenus Cnemidandrena)

 
  Alfredo Colon
8/2/2019

Location: Woodbury, MN

mining bee (Andrena Subgenus Cnemidandrena)

 
           
 
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Created: 4/8/2023

Last Updated:

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