Andrenid

/ænˈdriːnɪd/ noun

Definition

Any bee belonging to the family Andrenidae, which includes numerous species of solitary and ground-nesting bees.

Etymology

From the genus Andrena plus the suffix '-id' indicating membership in a larger taxonomic group. The family name Andrenidae formalizes this classification.

Kelly Says

Andrenids are the original pollinators of flowering plants before honeybees were even domesticated—in fact, many wild flowers evolved their shapes and colors specifically to attract these tiny solitary bees, making them irreplaceable for wild ecosystem health.

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