# Bryony Mining Bee (*Andrena florea*)

The Bryony Mining Bee is a small, fuzzy bee that loves to collect pollen from flowers. They are important for helping plants grow by spreading pollen around.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Bryony Mining Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Andrena_florea.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Hugues Mouret, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Andrena_florea.jpg)

## Appearance

The Bryony Mining Bee is a medium-sized bee, typically 10-12mm long. Females have a black body with dense, reddish-brown fur on their thorax and paler hairs on their abdomen. Their hind legs feature distinctive bright orange-red pollen-collecting hairs, making them easy to spot.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Hymenoptera
- **Family:** Andrenidae
- **Genus:** Andrena

## Interesting facts

- Bryony plants rely almost entirely on these bees to make seeds!
- Each female bee digs her own private nest tunnel.
- They spend most of their life underground as a larva.
- This bee only eats pollen from one plant family!

## Special abilities

- **Underground Architect:** Bryony Mining Bee has powerful digging legs that help them excavate intricate tunnels for their nests deep in the ground.
- **Pollinator Partner:** Bryony Mining Bee can efficiently gather pollen from toxic Bryony plants that helps them pollinate these unique flowers.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 18-24 mm
- **Size:** 10-12 mm
- **Lifespan:** 20-40 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

This bee is a specialist, only eating pollen and nectar from bryony plants.

- **Primary Foods:** Bryonia dioica pollen, Bryonia dioica nectar, Dioscorea communis pollen, Dioscorea communis nectar
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [White Bryony](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-bryony) (*Bryonia dioica*) — main pollinator for this specific host plant.
- **Pollinates:** Black Bryony (*Dioscorea communis*) — important pollinator for this specific host plant.
- **Parasitizes:** Variable Nomad Bee (*Nomada fucata*) — lays eggs in their nests, stealing food for its young.

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Stay calm and still if you see a bee; they usually won't bother you.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Bryony Mining Bee?

Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Bryony Mining Bee's wingspan?

18-24 mm

### How big is Bryony Mining Bee?

10-12 mm

### How long does Bryony Mining Bee live?

20-40 days

### What does Bryony Mining Bee eat?

This bee is a specialist, only eating pollen and nectar from bryony plants.

### Where is Bryony Mining Bee usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Bryony Mining Bee hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Bryony Mining Bee have?

6

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Bryony Mining Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bryony-mining-bee)