This mining bee is approximately 3/4 inch in length. The combination of all light hairs on the thorax (both dorsal and ventral), all black abdomen and black tibial scopal hairs are identifying characters for this species. The scopal hairs on the tibia are especially adapted to carry pollen, as this species lacks a pollen basket. The abdomen is shiny black. This species was identified by volunteer experts at the BugGuide website.
This species flies just in the spring. The female pictured here was photographed at Neale Woods on 5/9/09.
The mining bee family includes about 1,200 species of solitary bees in North America, and vicina is the most common Andrena species. The nests are burrows in the ground, with the entrance often hidden under leaf litter. The female waterproofs the walls of the brood cells with a secretion from a gland in her abdomen.
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