Extra Small, Pt. 2 - _TNY_0235
The subgenus Micrandena are known as the mini-mining bees – obviously because they are smaller than the rest of the Andrena genus.
This one on top of a pink great masterwort (Astrantia major) is a female of either shiny-margined mini-mining bee (Andrena semilaevis) or impunctate mini-mining bee (Andrena subopaca).
Discerning between these small guys is difficult from just a shot like this, but I narrowed it down to two species based on distribution.
Part 1 (a little closer) here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/49440979823/
Extra Small, Pt. 2 - _TNY_0235
The subgenus Micrandena are known as the mini-mining bees – obviously because they are smaller than the rest of the Andrena genus.
This one on top of a pink great masterwort (Astrantia major) is a female of either shiny-margined mini-mining bee (Andrena semilaevis) or impunctate mini-mining bee (Andrena subopaca).
Discerning between these small guys is difficult from just a shot like this, but I narrowed it down to two species based on distribution.
Part 1 (a little closer) here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/49440979823/