This is a large (15 mm) female Andrena found feeding on farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) growing near a wooded area north of Gainesville. The remarkable things about this bee are its size, black wings and intensely orange color. Its legs (except for the coxae and trochanters) are orange-red, and bright orange hairs cover much of the head, thorax and legs. This female was found together with the male bee shown here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/207778469
I have seen this species in three different locations of Alachua County during April 2014. The University of Florida bee key notes that Andrena obscuripennis has been found previously in Alachua County: the Bee Library records specimens at the University of Florida from Alachua Co. dated 1995-1997, and 1949. (See https://library.big-bee.net/portal/collections/list.php?usethes=1&taxa=4966). Bouseman & LaBerge (1978) wrote that Andrena obscuripennis was initially known only from Georgia and North Carolina, but noted that Mitchell (1960) provisionally included New Jersey and Louisiana in its range. The species has since been documented in places as widely dispersed as Mississippi, Missouri and Ontario.
Style included; fls pedicellate; calyx lobes linear
On the ground, many flying low to ground in area. Approx 1cm long
Investigating Andrena asteris nest. Several dozen patrolling nesting aggregation in bare sand.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181612164
Same location as a male from a few weeks ago. Many Nomada, and a few provisioning females.
2 individuals, but from within a few feet of each other at a nesting aggregation of Andrena frigida(?). individual on ground was digging at a site that a female was actively provisioning.
Population was briefly monitored over several weeks while conducting another pollinator study in the habitat. Oak pollen isn't considered nutritious in most literature, but must be useful to some degree. As the Quercus inopina pollen became available, there was stiff competition between females for the best catkins on the tree. Resources are limited at this site, which was xeric scrub.
Pollinating Calliandra eriophylla (fairy duster) along the Senita Basin Trail in Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
I've been thinking Eucera [Synhalonia] rosae, but after looking at the AI's suggestions I'm going to have to go back to square one and think this through.
In spite of getting a lot of photos showing various details, I only managed one oblique shot of the face.
Help would be very much appreciated.
A male in the same tribe (same species?) was seen about 5 hours after this sighting in almost the same spot: see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197900166.
~9 mm. On an Encelia farinosa flower. AI is "pretty sure" this is Hesperapis genus. Abdomen ends in a soft point, eyes appeared dark.
Flight pattern seemed similar to a yellow jacket, but this individual was half the size of the yellow jacket queens I'm seeing in the yard.