{"id":20816,"date":"2026-08-31T15:52:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T15:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/insects\/?p=20816"},"modified":"2026-08-31T15:52:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T15:52:44","slug":"ashy-mining-bee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/insects\/ashy-mining-bee\/","title":{"rendered":"Ashy Mining Bee: Identification, Nest, Sting & Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria<\/em>) is a distinctive spring-flying solitary bee known for its glossy blue-black body and striking bands of pale gray or white hair. Females dig individual nests in the ground, often creating small volcano-shaped piles of soil around the entrance. Although hundreds may nest close together, they do not form a social colony like honey bees. Ashy Mining Bees are non-aggressive, important pollinators of fruit trees and spring flowers, and are common across much of Britain and Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does an Ashy Mining Bee Look Like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Ashy Mining Bee is one of the easiest British mining bees to recognize, particularly the female. Its dark metallic body contrasts strongly with broad bands of pale hair across the thorax. Males are smaller and less boldly marked, so females are generally much easier to identify accurately in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ashy Mining Bee Identification<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Scientific name: Andrena cineraria<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Family: Andrenidae<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Glossy black to blue-black abdomen<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Ash-gray or whitish body hair<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Female has two broad pale bands across the thorax<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Female has pale hair on the face<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Male is smaller and more evenly gray-haired<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Length up to about 15 mm<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Usually seen close to the ground in spring<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Females are approximately honey-bee sized, while males are smaller and somewhat less distinctive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Male Ashy Mining Bee<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Male Ashy Mining Bees retain the dark blue-black appearance but have more widespread whitish or gray hairs over the thorax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They also have conspicuous pale hair around the face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Males emerge before females in spring and can often be seen flying quickly over nesting areas while looking for newly emerged females.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ashy Mining Bee Nest<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Ashy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Ashy Mining Bees are ground-nesting solitary bees<\/strong>. Each female excavates her own underground nest rather than sharing a communal hive. However, suitable patches of sunny soil may contain dozens or even hundreds of individual nests, creating what sometimes looks like a bee colony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Does the Nest Look Like?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Typical signs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Small round entrance hole<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Loose soil around the entrance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Volcano-shaped mound<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Nest in lawn or bare soil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Several nests close together<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Sunny, well-drained location<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Wildlife Trusts reports that burrows may reach around 10\u201320 cm deep<\/strong>, with brood chambers constructed underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Why Are There So Many Bees Together?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Although they are solitary, Ashy Mining Bees often form nesting aggregations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Each female still controls and provisions her own burrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This is very different from a honey bee colony: there is no queen commanding workers and no shared hive containing honey stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ashy Mining Bee Life Cycle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Ashy Mining Bees generally produce one generation each year. Adults emerge in spring, reproduce, and females construct nests where the next generation develops underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Their flight season varies according to location and temperature, with northern populations appearing somewhat later than southern ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Life Cycle Stages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Adult emergence:<\/strong> Males usually appear first in spring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Mating:<\/strong> Males patrol nesting sites looking for females.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Nest construction:<\/strong> Females excavate underground burrows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Food storage:<\/strong> Pollen and nectar are placed inside brood cells.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. Egg laying:<\/strong> One egg is laid with each food provision.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      6. Larval development:<\/strong> Larvae consume the stored pollen and nectar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      7. Pupation:<\/strong> Development continues underground.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      8. Adult emergence:<\/strong> The new generation appears the following spring.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Wildlife Trusts notes that larvae develop on the pollen and nectar stored by their mothers before pupating and emerging as adults the next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What Do Ashy Mining Bees Eat?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Adults feed primarily on nectar and pollen from spring flowers. Females collect large quantities of pollen to supply their developing larvae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The species is not restricted to a single plant and can visit many spring-flowering trees, shrubs, and wildflowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Common Food Plants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        They commonly visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Willow<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Blackthorn<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Hawthorn<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Gorse<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Dandelion<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Buttercup<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Apple blossoms<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Cherry blossoms<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Pear blossoms<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Other spring flowers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Their peak activity often overlaps with fruit-tree flowering, making Ashy Mining Bees valuable orchard pollinators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Do Ashy Mining Bees Sting?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Female Ashy Mining Bees are bees and are physically capable of defensive stinging, but they are extremely non-aggressive<\/strong>. BWARS specifically describes the species as safe around children and pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Are Ashy Mining Bees Dangerous?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          No. They are not considered dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          They do not defend a communal hive, honey supply, or queen, so even large nesting aggregations usually pose little risk to people walking nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          The safest approach is simply to avoid squeezing or deliberately handling them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          What If There Are Nests in Your Lawn?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Usually, nothing needs to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          A lawn containing many nest entrances may look alarming because dozens of bees can fly close to the ground. However, each female is independently caring for her own nest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          The activity is seasonal and normally decreases once the short spring breeding period ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Ashy Mining Bee Habitat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
          \"Ashy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          Ashy Mining Bees prefer open, sunny places where soil is suitable for excavation. Sandy ground is particularly favorable, but the species can also use chalk, clay, silt, and managed lawns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Their ability to use parks and gardens means they can thrive surprisingly close to people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Typical Habitats<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          They can be found in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n