Very Late or Very Early

Ashy Mining Bee, Andrena cineraria Liz Howes

Incredibly, this Ashy Mining Bee has been recorded this week by Liz Howes in Glasbury, near to Hay-on-Wye. This species of solitary mining bee is usually seen in April, May and June. It is unusual to find them much later than August, however, Steven Falk, (2020). does note that they are increasingly being recorded in October on occasion. Even so, a record in November is quite late. This will be due to climate change and warmer temperatures in the autumn. This species will overwinter as adults within the natal cells (BWARS). So the question is this. Is it a late individual or a very early spring emergent?