Invertebrates
Tawny Mining Bee
Andrena fulva
On a sunny April lawn, small volcano-shaped mounds of soil mark the nests of tawny mining bees, and a foxy red female loads her legs with dandelion pollen.
Overview
The tawny mining bee, Andrena fulva, is a foxy-red solitary bee of gardens, parks, and grassland across much of Europe. Its soil mounds, spring flight, and harmlessness make it one of the best-known solitary bees in the British garden.
A bee that digs in the lawn
The volcano-shaped mounds left by mining bees are a sign of a healthy pollinator population, and they disappear with rain or a gentle sweep of the brush.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Tawny Mining Bee: common questions
What are the mounds in my lawn?
They may be the nest entrances of mining bees, which dig burrows in short grass and push up small volcano-shaped mounds of earth.
Does the tawny mining bee sting?
It is not aggressive and rarely stings, and the mounds do no lasting harm to the lawn.
Why is it called tawny?
The female has a dense, tawny red-orange coat on her thorax and abdomen.
When is the tawny mining bee active?
Adults fly in spring, from around March to May, and are over by summer.