Clarke's Mining Bee

Clarke's Mining Bee (Andrena clarkella) found and photographed by Jack at the Mere on March 30th this year. Obviously a first record for the site or do we have a small colony ?. It's favourite habitat is a variety of willow rich locations especially those with sandy soil . Pollen is obtained almost entirely from willows and also observed visiting Colt's-foot and dandelions , all of which the Mere has plenty of. The image below is of a female which Jack photographed they average a little larger than a Honey Bee . The much smaller brown haired males face is mostly buff coloured but with strips of black hairs along side the inner eye margins. Widespread and locally common throughout Britain especially in heathland districts of southern and central England. It is a spring flying species , males can appear in mid-February in mild winters and females sometimes persist to late May.