Early Mining Bee

This is an Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) on Garden Angelica (Angelica archangelica archangelica). Female Mining Bees live alone and nest in small holes they dig in the ground. This species is active in early spring and therefore called "Early".

The Garden Angelica is a real treat for insects and often swarming with bees, wasps, hoverflies, beetles etc.; the flowers may not look like much, but they have a strong smell. Even though it has "Garden" in its English name, and this one really is a garden specimen, it grows also wild here in Finland.

Thank you for looking.

Olympus E-3
Sigma 105 mm macro
1/250 sec @ f7.1
ISO 125
No flash, handheld