Description

Body length 8 - 11mm. A very early mining bee. The head is black with black hairs on the face and the thorax has a dense pile of orange/buff hair on its dorsal surface and black hair along the sides and underneath. The abdomen is covered with black hairs and the hind tibiae are covered in orange/buff hair.

Habitat

Sandy soils along field edges or on brown-field sites.

Status and distribution

Widespread but local across most of Britain. Uncommon in Nottinghamshire but regular at Netherfield Lagoons.

Best time to see

February to May.