Tawny Mining Bee

Natural Habitat

Gardens, parks, and woodland edges with light or sandy soil suitable for burrowing.

Diet & Feeding

Nectar and pollen from a wide variety of flowers, including fruit trees, hawthorn, and dandelions.

Behavior Patterns

Solitary bees that emerge in early spring; females dig individual burrows in the ground marked by small mounds of soil; they are active for a short period to provision nests with pollen for their larvae.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial pollinators for wildflowers and fruit crops; they are very docile, and while females have stinger, they rarely sting unless handled roughly or stepped upon.

Identified on: 4/17/2026