Adults. Mining bees vary in size; the small species are approximately 1/10 inch (5 millimeters) long, and the largest mining bees are 5/16 inch (18 millimeters) long. Most adults are black, with white, gold or orange-colored hairs on the head and thorax, and have abdomens that range from hairy to hairless.
One distinguishing feature in females is the two depressions (foveae) between their large (compound) eyes on their face. These depressions are typically filled with felt-like hairs; the hair color in the foveae is often a different color than the hair on the head, giving the appearance of two vertical stripes on the face. Females collect pollen on hairs on their tibia, femur and trochanter on their hind legs as well as on their propodeum (side of the thorax). Compared with many other wild bees that collect pollen on the lower portion of the hind leg, with mining bees the pollen collection is on a noticeably higher spot, closer to the thorax.
Babies (larvae). Larvae are grub-like and are pale yellow to cream in color. It is unlikely you will see larvae, as all mining bees nest belowground.
Shown: A Geranium Andrena (Andrena geranii) visiting Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum). This mining bee is a specialist of Hydrophyllum spp.
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