Critters of the Week

Where Spotted: Belle Isle
Common Name: Miner Bee aka Chimney Bee
Scientific Name: Anthophora abrupta
Length: 8-17 mm

Quick Facts

• Mining bees (‘Andrenidae’) are one of the largest groups of solitary bees. It is believed to consist of over 4500 known species of bees across the world.
• Adults may be active for 6 – 8 weeks of the year, and the new adults that emerge will need to hibernate over winter again, to re-emerge in Spring. Although solitary, some species may nest in aggregations.
• Non-aggressive. They ignored me as a sat nearby taking photos.
• Like most native bees, they do not produce honey and so do not attract bears, raccoons, opossums, or skunks.
• Each tunnel is usually separate from other tunnels, although they may live in large communities with hundreds, or even thousands, of tunnels. Similar to a housing development, each home is unique to the owner.

Not so Quick Fact on the Tunnels from the University of Flordia

After digging their burrows, Anthophora abrupta females line the walls and cells with a glandular secretion excreted from their Dufour’s gland (a gland near the base of the abdomen associated with egg-laying). It begins as a clear liquid and then turns into a solid plate with wax-like consistency. This process essentially waterproofs the cell, making it cup-like for the provisioning of the egg.

Adult Anthophora abrupta females forage on several plants, collecting pollen and nectar. They place a few loads of dry pollen into an excavated cell and moisten it with nectar and more secretions from the Dufour’s gland. The females then mix these substances into a soupy mass. They then lay a single egg onto the pollen mixture and seal the cell with clay, leaving a single pore in the capping.

Layla at Richmond SPCA

Layla
Got me on my knees
Layla
Begging darling please
Layla
Darling won’t you ease my worried mind?

Age: 5 years, 1 month
Gender: Spayed Female
Color: Grey
Size: L (dog size guide)
ID: 44196713

Adopt Layla at Richmond SPCA

Learn more about their adoption process.

To reduce visitor traffic, during the COVID-19 outbreak they are scheduling adoption appointments beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Please leave your phone number in a voicemail or email and an adoption counselor will call to set an appointment for you to meet with a pet. Email the adoption center or call 804-521-1307.

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