Andrena ruficrus Nylander,1848
Synonyms
Andrena rufitarsis homonym Zetterstedt, 1838, Andrena (Euandrena) ruficrus rubicrus Hirashima, 1957
Description and notes
One of the smaller Andrena species, similar in size to the widespread A. bicolor Fabricius. It is unusual in being a northern species, and probably because of this its biology is rather poorly known, historically there being fewer people interested in aculeates in the northern parts of these islands.
Distribution
Northwards from Yorkshire, with scattered records over much of Scotland.
It occurs in central and northern Europe, eastwards to the Caucasus. Also known from
Japan.
Status (in Britain only)
Listed as Rare (RDB3) in both Shirt (1987) and Falk (1991).
Habitat
Associated with sallows and also requiring areas of bare ground in the sun for nesting.
Flight period
Univoltine; March to June.
Pollen collected
Oligolectic on species of sallow.
Nesting biology
Nests in small aggregations in sunny patches of bare, or thinly vegetated, soil (N Robinson, pers. comm.)
Flowers visited
Recorded as visiting a wide variety of flowers for nectar.
Parasites
No data available.
Year profile last updated
2012