HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Aculeata > APOIDEA > Andrenidae

A widespread, but localised, predominantly southern species that is  often grouped together with Andrena furcata and Andrena helvola as all three species have similar appearance, phenology and habitat preferences, which makes them hard to distinguish from photos. The females typically have a reddish-brown thorax and an orange or yellowish pile on tergites 1 and 2, closely resembling Andrena helvola, but can be separated by finer details if closely examined. They are quite variable though and also have a darker form. The long-jawed males could also be confused with helvola males, as well as Andrena furcata and lapponica. There's a single generation that flies from around mid-April to late June, mostly in open deciduous woodland or on scrubby heathland, but also on downland or well-hedged farmland, and coastal scrub.

The individual currently featured here was identified and separately confirmed by two experts on the BWARS FB group. It appears to be rather scarce and is one of the least recorded Andrena species in Dorset, but interestingly the same applies with both Andrena furcata and Andrena helvola, with the latter only having a single confirmed record when I checked the NBN Atlas.