May is the peak of Mining Bee diversity in Vermont, with dozens of widespread generalists that are challenging if not impossible to identify from photographs. Eventually they will all be covered here.
Genus level ID: See the Mining Bee page for tips on separating other genera.
Subgenus Melandrena
This abundant subgenus of spring bees is distinctive as a group. None are known to be specialists but several species are often found on spring ephemerals.
Long-lipped Mining Bee (Andrena barbilabris)
Cresson's Mining Bee (Andrena cressonii)
Allegheny Mining Bee (Andrena alleghaniensis)
Hippotes's Miner Bee (Andrena hippotes)
Miserable Mining Bee (Andrena miserabilis)
Nason's Mining Bee (Andrena nasonii)
Spring Mining Bees that are probably not identifiable from photos
Short-tongued Miner Bee (Andrena brevipalpis)
Forbes’ Mining Bee (Andrena forbesii)
Ceanothus Miner Bee (Andrena ceanothi)
Hippotes’s Miner Bee (Andrena hippotes)
Imitator Miner Bee (Andrena imitatrix)
Specialization data primarily from https://jarrodfowler.com/bees_pollen.html
The table below is a complete list (as of February 2021) of all Mining Bee species confirmed for Vermont. Links (where present) will take you to individual species pages with natural history notes, identification tips, and a map.
