Tawny Mining Bee

Tawny Mining Bee

(Andrena fulva)

The tawny mining bee was thought to be extinct in Ireland for almost 100 years. In 2012, it was rediscovered in Co. Kilkenny and has since been spotted in Counties Carlow, Down, Dublin, Kildare, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

This bee is in flight from April to June and visits a wide variety of native plants to collect nectar and pollen.

Recent sightings have come from gardens and parks, so keep an eye out for the tawny mining bee.

The Mining Bees

Mining bees belong to a large family called the Andrenidae which contains over 2,000 species worldwide. There are 30 different species of mining bee in Ireland. All mining bees are solitary.

After mating, female mining bees lay their eggs in small nests which they build underground. The young bees hibernate through the winter as adults. Adult mining bees can be seen in flight from spring to autumn.