Cuddly gorgeous brunettes…

One of the earliest solitary bees on the wing is the tawny mining bee (Andrena fulva).

Female tawny mining bee

The first signs are the mini-volcanoes they excavate. Our sandy soil is perfect for their mining activities whey they take advantage of our thin grass cover which gives easy access to the sandy soil.

The males are brown with a white face. I’ve watched them busy on our spring flowers. Busy, bossy and mobile - too mobile for my meagre photographic skills I’m afraid. No wonder they’re in a hurry. They hatch, mate and die in short order.

Volcanic activity

The females are smaller, cuddly gorgeous brunettes.They have no sting.

The females dig down and then lay their eggs. She provisions each cell with nectar and pollen. The young feed up and pupate the following spring and the cycle begins again.