Andrena agilissima
Encyclopedia
Andrena agilissima is a species of mining bees belonging to the family Andrenidae
subfamily Andreninae
.
They are present in most of Europe
, in the Near East
and in North Africa
. They can be encountered from April through July.
The adults grow up to 13–15 mm (0.511811023622047–0.590551181102362 ) long, females are slightly larger than males. They have a shiny black body, with tufts of white velvety hairs on the facial fovea, on either side of thorax, on last abdominal tergites and on the femora of the third pair of legs. The wings have bluish reflections.
Andrena agilissima is an oligoleptic species, feeding only on pollen of a few genera of Cruciferous vegetables
(Brassicaceae
species, as Brassica napus, Brassica rapa
, Raphanus raphanistrum, Barbarea vulgaris
and Sinapis
species).
Several females of the same generation share the same nest, dug on sandy soil, on the river banks or on steep walls. Usually the nests have a common entrance, but each individual has its own brood cells with its egg.
Andrenidae
The family Andrenidae is a large cosmopolitan non-parasitic bee family, with most of the diversity in temperate and/or arid areas , including some truly enormous genera...
subfamily Andreninae
Andreninae
The bee subfamily Andreninae is a nearly cosmopolitan lineage, with most of its diversity in one genus, Andrena, which contains over 1300 species...
.
They are present in most of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, in the Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
and in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. They can be encountered from April through July.
The adults grow up to 13–15 mm (0.511811023622047–0.590551181102362 ) long, females are slightly larger than males. They have a shiny black body, with tufts of white velvety hairs on the facial fovea, on either side of thorax, on last abdominal tergites and on the femora of the third pair of legs. The wings have bluish reflections.
Andrena agilissima is an oligoleptic species, feeding only on pollen of a few genera of Cruciferous vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables
Vegetables of the family Brassicaceae are called cruciferous vegetables. The vegetables are widely cultivated, with many genera, species, and cultivars being raised for food production such as cauliflower, cabbage, cress, bok choy, broccoli and similar green leaf vegetables...
(Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
species, as Brassica napus, Brassica rapa
Brassica rapa
Brassica rapa L. , commonly known as turnip, turnip rape, field mustard or turnip mustard is a plant widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable , a root vegetable , and an oilseed .In the 18th century the turnip and...
, Raphanus raphanistrum, Barbarea vulgaris
Barbarea vulgaris
Barbarea vulgaris, also called as Bittercress, Herb Barbara, Rocketcress, Yellow Rocketcress, Winter Rocket, and Wound Rocket, is a biennial herb of the genus Barbarea, belonging to the family Brassicaceae....
and Sinapis
Sinapis
Sinapis is a genus of plants in the family Brassicaceae. One of the species in this genus is White mustard . Black mustard is sometimes placed in this genus as well, but is more often placed in the related genus Brassica...
species).
Several females of the same generation share the same nest, dug on sandy soil, on the river banks or on steep walls. Usually the nests have a common entrance, but each individual has its own brood cells with its egg.