Ashy Mining Bee
Andrena cineraria
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Ashy Mining Bee is one of Britain's most striking solitary bees — the female is black and grey-white with a white-grey thorax and white facial hair, creating a distinctive grey-and-black look. Males are slightly smaller and fuzzier. It nests in sandy banks in aggregations — not colonies (each female has her own burrow), but sometimes hundreds of individuals nesting in a favoured south-facing bank. The Sefton Coast's sandy dune banks are ideal habitat.
At a Glance
| Order | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Andrenidae |
| Habitat | Sandy dune bank · Open sandy ground · Coastal grassland |
| Diet | Pollen from a range of flowers — particularly Willows, Dandelion, Fruit blossom |
| UK population | Common in England; often nests in aggregations |
| Sefton Coast | Present on south-facing sandy dune banks; nests in aggregations |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
South-facing sandy banks in the dune system. Open sandy ground with access to flowers.
Identification
Female: unmistakeable — black body with white-grey thorax hair giving grey overall appearance. White facial hair. Male: smaller, more uniformly grey-haired. Nests in sandy banks.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Look for groups of bee burrow entrances on south-facing sandy dune banks in April. The grey-and-black female is unmistakeable among the bees visiting flowers nearby.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ashy Mining Bee aggressive?
No. Like all solitary bees, Ashy Mining Bees are not aggressive. Females are focused on nest-building and pollen collection; males, having no nest to defend, rarely sting. They may investigate people at close range (males particularly), but they don't sting unless physically handled. Close observation of a nesting aggregation is perfectly safe.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.