About Andrena marginata Fabricius, 1776
Andrena marginata (Fabricius, 1776) is a medium-sized mining bee that reaches a body length of approximately 11 mm (0.43 in). The basic body color of this species is black or dark brown. Males have extensive dark coloration across the abdomen, with only the second and third tergites partially orange. Males are slimmer, have denser body hair than females, and possess a yellowish-white mouth shield. Females of this species occur in multiple color forms. Females typically have dense body hair and a specialized pollen basket on their hind legs. In most females, the abdomen is hairless, with only the first abdominal tergite black and all other tergites orange; some females are predominantly orange. More or less completely black or dark individuals can appear in both sexes. This species is present across most of Europe and the East Palaearctic. It primarily inhabits acidic or calcareous grasslands, moors, heaths, moorland edges, and woodland, in areas where Devil's-bit scabious plants grow.
