Coneflower Mining Bee
ExploreInsects
Coneflower Mining Bee
Andrena rudbeckiae
The Coneflower Mining Bee is a small, fuzzy bee that loves to visit flowers, especially coneflowers! They help flowers grow by spreading pollen while they collect food for their babies.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Coneflower Mining Bee is a medium-sized bee with a black body covered in dense, yellowish-brown hair, especially on its thorax and legs. It has transparent wings and noticeable pollen-collecting hairs on its hind legs, giving it a fuzzy, golden-brown appearance, distinct from the shinier, less hairy appearance of honeybees.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyAndrenidaeGenusAndrena
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Each baby bee gets its own special ball of pollen and nectar to eat!
Female Coneflower Mining Bees lay eggs in their very own underground 'apartments'!
These tiny bees often emerge from the ground on the very same day coneflowers bloom!
They are expert tunnelers, digging new homes every year for their families!
Special abilities
Ability
Pollen Porter
Coneflower Mining Bee has special branched hairs that help them gather and carry huge amounts of pollen back to nourish their growing young.
Ability
Underground Architect
Coneflower Mining Bee can dig intricate tunnels in the soil using its strong jaws and legs, creating secure nurseries for its larvae.
Ability
Flower Finder
Coneflower Mining Bee can find its favorite coneflowers by detecting specific chemical scents because of its super-sensitive antennae.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 10-15 mm
- Size
- 7-10 mm
- Lifespan
- 30-60 days
- Flight Speed
- 12 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
They eat only pollen and nectar from flowers, especially coneflowers!
Primary Foods
- Pollen
- Nectar
- Rudbeckia hirta
- Echinacea purpurea
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
pollinates
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Primary food source and host flower.
pollinates
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Crucial for this flower's reproduction.
parasitizes
American Oil Beetle
Meloe americanus
Larvae wait on flowers to hitch a ride to nests.
Traits
Furry
Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
These bees are friendly and won't sting unless they feel scared. Just watch them from a distance!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Coneflower Mining Bee's wingspan?
10-15 mm
How big is Coneflower Mining Bee?
7-10 mm
How long does Coneflower Mining Bee live?
30-60 days
How fast can Coneflower Mining Bee fly?
12 km/h
What does Coneflower Mining Bee eat?
They eat only pollen and nectar from flowers, especially coneflowers!
Where is Coneflower Mining Bee usually found?
Grasslands
How does Coneflower Mining Bee hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Coneflower Mining Bee have?
6
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