A rather large mining bee, similar in size to species such as Andrena clarkella or A. scotica. Females have a brown thoracic pile, buff-brown facial hairs, abdominal and hind tibia hairs, with slightly paler hairs on the side of the thorax. Males have a projection at the base of the mandibles and are largely covered with pale grey-brown hair, except the posterior half of the abdomen (tergites 3 – 5) which has darker hair. They are similar to the males of Andrena praecox, but are usually larger. The best feature to separate them is the final sternite at the end of the abdomen, which is long and squared-off in apicata, but slightly notched (dipped in the middle) in praecox. This feature is best observed under a microscope. Females are also similar to A. praecox but are larger with less reddish-brown colouration. It is a scarcely recorded species in Ireland and is listed as Data Deficient, despite its main foraging source, willow, being so common. It is more or less restricted to woodland margins in the southern counties, suggesting a lower tolerance to cooler conditions and perhaps more precise habitat requirements than other willow specialists like Andrena clarkella.

Distribution in Ireland: Until recently, it was only known from counties Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny. An unmapped record for Killarney (Co. Kerry) also exists, suggesting that it may be more widespread in the southern counties.

Flight Period: An early flier, active from mid March until early May, peaking in April. In most years, both sexes will be gone by the beginning of May.

Habitat: Modern records come from deciduous woodland and scrub with abundant willows. Older records also include disused quarries.

Flowers Visited: Females are oligolectic on willows and visit the catkins almost exclusively. Males may occasionally visit dandelions or Lesser Celandine.

Personal Records: I have recorded this species in Knocksink Wood, Co. Wicklow where I observed a female nesting in a well-vegetated south-facing clay bank. It was nesting in close proximity to Andrena clarkella and several Nomada leucophthalma, a kleptoparasite of both of these species, were active nearby. I have also recorded a male at Kilcarry Bridge (Co. Carlow), which was active around willow catkins at the roadside, and at St. Mullin’s (also Co. Carlow) and Bohernabreena (Co. Dublin) where males were observed basking on wooden posts. Additionally I have recorded it in good numbers around the Barrow track south of Tinnehinch in Co. Carlow. In early April, males were numerous here and could be encountered by examining sunlit tree trunks, stones and bare soil, as well as by sweeping vegetation.