About Andrena helvola (Linnaeus, 1758)
Andrena helvola is a medium-sized bee species, with females larger than males. Females have a forewing length that ranges from 9 to 10 mm (0.35 to 0.39 inches), while the smaller males have forewings measuring 6.5 to 8.5 mm (0.26 to 0.33 inches). Larger males are more robust and have bigger heads than smaller male individuals of this species. Female Andrena helvola have a covering of reddish-brown hair on the top of the thorax. They have a relatively thick covering of orange or yellowish hair on their first and second abdominal tergites, and a short covering of grey hair on their third and fourth tergites. This bee occurs across the Western Palearctic, ranging from Great Britain east to Russia. Its range extends north to southern Scandinavia, and south to the Pyrenees, Alps, Balkans, and Anatolia. Within Great Britain, it is mainly found in southern England and Wales, with scattered populations present in Scotland. It inhabits deciduous woodland and can grow on a variety of different soil types.
