Saving the small things that run the planet
Perkins’ Mining Bee
Fast Facts
Latin name: Andrena rosae
Notable feature: Bright red patch of exoskeleton near the base of its abdomen.
Conservation Status: Not Evaluated
Where in the UK: Modern records are from Cornwall, Devon, Oxfordshire, Kent and South Wales.
Perkin's Mining Bee (Andrena rosae) © Paweł Ryszawa (CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist)
Perkins’ Mining Bee (Andrena rosae) is a rare bee with a preference for exposed maritime habitats.
These medium to large solitary bees are relatively hairless creatures on the top of their abdomen and thorax. On their abdomen they have a bright red patch on the sides of their second abdominal segment, making them quite easily recognisable.
- Size: Wing length up to 11mm, body length ~15mm.
- Life span: Each of the two generations live for about two months.
- Diet: The spring generation feeds on willows and blackthorn predominantly. The summer generation is thought to forage only on umbellifers such as, Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), Wild carrot (Daucus carota), Sea Holly (Eryngium sp.), and Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris).
- Reproduction: Little is known about the nesting habits of this bee. It’s likely that they prefer south facing, sparsely vegetated patches of ground like other mining bees.
- When to see: This bee has two generations throughout the year. One from late-March to late-May, the other from mid-July to early September.
- Population Trend: Declining in UK, Europe uncertain.
- Threats: As with many of the rarer bees in the British Isles, we don’t know exactly why certain species are rare, especially when their food plants are quite common. However, the loss of wildflower-rich grassland, climate breakdown, and increased pesticide usage is likely to blame.
- Interesting Fact: Some bee experts from Europe suggest that the two generations of Perkins’ Mining Bee are actually separate species. The spring generation being known as Andrena stragulata and the summer generation Andrena rosae.
Buglife is helping the recovery of populations of Perkins’ Mining Bee and other wildlife via our projects and campaigns, including Kernow Wyls – People for Pollinators, Solitary Bee Week and B-Lines, but we need your help!
Buglife B-Lines are an imaginative and beautiful solution to the problem of the loss of flowers and pollinators. B-Lines are a series of ‘insect pathways’ running through our countryside and towns, along which we are restoring and creating a series of wildflower-rich habitat stepping stones. Linking existing wildlife areas together, creating a network, like a railway, that will weave across the UK landscape. More information about B-Lines and how you can help pollinators can be found here.
Join a recording scheme and log your finds – send any records/sightings to BWARS or download the iRecord app and get recording!
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