A medium-sized mining bee (11-13mm) with a ginger-brown thoracic pile, black head and abdomen and pale hindleg hairs. Males are slimmer and smaller with a mandible projection and orange hind tarsi and both sexes have pale facial hair and whitish hairs on the lateral areas of the thorax. It is a somewhat local species which has an association with deciduous woodlands. It has undergone a decline over recent decades and is now classed as Near Threatened.

Distribution in Ireland: Widespread but not common.

Flight Period: Late April- early August, peaking between mid-May and mid-June.

Habitat: Various habitats are used including mixed and deciduous woodland edges and clearings, mature scrub, heathland margins, gardens and scrubby coastal areas. It is particularly prevalent in sunny, deciduous woodland clearings with abundant bramble blossom.

Flowers visited: Females are polylectic and will visit bramble, Dog Rose, Bilberry, Hawthorn, umbellifers, brassicas, buttercups, Tormentil, Figwort and others. Rosaceae flowers seem to be favoured, particularly bramble, raspberry and various roses.

Personal Records: I have observed this species around woodland in Hillsborough and Clonacullion (both Co. Down), as well as Lady Dixon Park (Co. Down), Clonakilty (Co. Cork), Romaney (Co. Monaghan), Ards Forest (Co. Donegal), Tully Castle (Co. Fermanagh), Borris (Co. Carlow) and Meeting of the Waters (Co. Wicklow). It is a widespread species but it never seems to be as abundant as other Andrena species. Females are best searched for along sunny hedgerows and banks where they can be seen foraging on flowers such as bramble and various umbellifers. Males often fly around sun-lit shrubs and hedgerows. I have observed nesting females in a small, loose aggregation in semi-shade in a dry clay bank. It is one of the host species of Panzer’s Nomad Bee (Nomada panzeri).