This is a beautiful species which bears a passing resmeblance to the Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria). Upon closer inspection however, it has smokey, purplish wings which are usually held at an angle whilst at rest. Females also have white hairs on the hind tibia, as well as tufts of white hairs towards the rear of the abdomen. It can be separated from the similar Andrena afrensis and Andrena asperrima by the combination of sparse abdominal punctures and  metallic blue sheen on the abdomen.

Distribution: Primarily a western and central European species, fround throughout the Iberian Peninsula, eastwards through France to Poland, where it reaches the Baltic coast. It occurs in Hungary and Croatia but is largely absent from the Balkans. It occurs on most western Mediterranean islands, as well as the Channel Islands.

Flight Period: Flies in a single generation between April-August, depending on the location.

Habitat: Occurs in relatively open habitats which are rich in Brassicaceae. This includes dunes, brownfield land, scrub, field margins and maquis.

Flowers Visited: Females are fond of visiting Brassicaceae flowers, as well as umbellifers. Thrift and buttercups are also visited.

Personal Records: I have recorded this species once, outside Albufeira in southern Portugal. Here I observed females visiting flowers of various yellow brassicas as well as white umbellifers.