Andrena Fabricius Research Articles

A critical revision of the Andrena Fabricius, 1775 of India, with the description of two new species (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) from Uttarakhand

A critical revision of the Andrena Fabricius, 1775 of India, with the description of two new species (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) from Uttarakhand

The type specimens of bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) deposited in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. Contribution VII. Family Andrenidae, genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775, taxa described by A. Osytshnjuk and A. Lebedev

The type specimens for names of bee taxa in the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775, described by Anna Z. Osytshnjuk and Alexander G. Lebedev which are deposited in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg) are reviewed. Primary types of 27 taxa (22 described by A. Osytshnjuk and five described by A. Lebedev) are illustrated and detailed information is provided. A new synonymy is established for Andrena marmora Nurse, 1904=A. gussakovskii Lebedev, 1932, syn. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Andrena azerbaidshanica Lebedev, 1932 and A. cochlearicalcar Lebedev, 1933. A complete list of all taxa of the genus Andrena described by A. Osytshnjuk (88 taxa) and A. Lebedev (11 taxa) is also given, with the locality data of the primary types.

The type specimens of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) deposited in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. Contribution VI. Family Andrenidae, genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775, taxa described by V. Popov.

The type specimens for names of bee taxa in the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775, described by V.B. Popov and which are deposited in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg) are reviewed. Primary types of 19 taxa are illustrated and detailed information is provided. New synonymies are established for Andrena chengtehensis Yasumatsu, 1935 (= A. nova Popov, 1940, syn. nov.) and A. skorikovi Popov, 1940 (=A. firuzaensis Popov, 1940, syn. nov.; =A. firuzaensis popovella Gusenleitner & Schwarz, 2002, syn. nov.; = Andrena iranella Popov, 1940, syn. nov.). Based on study of the the lectotype, we consider Andrena discophora transhissarica Popov, 1958, stat. rev., at the subspecific level, and not as a distinct species, as opposed to Shebl & Tadauchi (2011). Lectotypes are here designated for the following twelve nominal taxa: Andrena alashanica Popov, 1949, A. discophora transhissarica Popov, 1958, A. eoa Popov, 1949, A. fedtschenkoi djumensis Popov, 1947, A. firuzaensis Popov, 1940, A. iranella Popov, 1940, A. lebedevi Popov, 1940, A. nanshanica Popov, 1940, A. nova Popov, 1940, A. shakuensis Popov, 1949, A. subconsobrina Popov, 1949, and A. tadzhica Popov, 1949.

The type specimens of bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) deposited in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. Contribution V. Family Andrenidae, genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775, species described by E. Eversmann

The type specimens for names of bee taxa in the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 described by E. Eversmann and which are deposited in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg) are reviewed. Primary types of 18 taxa are illustrated and detailed information is provided. New synonymy is established for three species: Andrena fallax Eversmann, 1852 (=A. ispida Warncke, 1965, syn. nov.); A. assimilis Radoszkowski, 1876 (=A. gravida Eversmann, 1852, nec A. gravida Imhoff, 1832, syn. nov.); A. nigriceps (Kirby, 1802) (=A. nigrifrons Eversmann, 1852, syn. nov.). Based on the lectotype studying we consider Andrena fulva Eversmann, 1852 (nec A. fulva Müller, 1766) to be a junior synonym of A. (Taeniandrena) eversmanniana Osytshnjuk, 1994, stat. rev., not A. (Margandrena) marginata Fabricius, 1776, as opposed to Gusenleitner & Schwarz (2002). Corrections on lectotype data are provided for four taxa: Andrena ambigua Eversmann, 1852, A. consobrina Eversmann, 1852, A. fulvitarsis Eversmann, 1852, and A. scita Eversmann, 1852.

The bees of the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae) described by Ferdinand Morawitz from the collection of Aleksey Fedtschenko.

The type specimens of the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775, described by Ferdinand Morawitz from the collection of Aleksey Fedtschenko deposited in the Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University and in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg (Russia), are critically reviewed. Precise information with illustrations of types for 52 taxa is provided; of these 39 species are valid and thirteen are invalid (ten synonyms and three homonyms). Lectotypes are here designated for the following 24 nominal taxa: Andrenaacutilabris Morawitz, 1876, A.aulica Morawitz, 1876, A.bicarinata Morawitz, 1876, A.combusta Morawitz, 1876, A.comparata Morawitz, 1876, A.corallina Morawitz, 1876, A.discophora Morawitz, 1876, A.fedtschenkoi Morawitz, 1876, A.initialis Morawitz, 1876, A.laeviventris Morawitz, 1876, A.leucorhina Morawitz, 1876, A.mucorea Morawitz, 1876, A.nitidicollis Morawitz, 1876, A.oralis Morawitz, 1876, A.planirostris Morawitz, 1876, A.ravicollis Morawitz, 1876, A.rufilabris Morawitz, 1876, A.sarta Morawitz, 1876, A.smaragdina Morawitz, 1876, A.sogdiana Morawitz, 1876, A.subaenescens Morawitz, 1876, A.tuberculiventris Morawitz, 1876, A.turkestanica Morawitz, 1876, and A.virescens Morawitz, 1876.

Why are there so many species of mining bees (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae)? The possible roles of phenology and Wolbachia incompatibility in maintaining species boundaries in the Andrena proxima‐complex

AbstractThe factors leading to the extraordinary diversity of the bees of the genus Andrena Fabricius, the second most speciose genus among bees, remain largely unknown. To examine the pattern of diversification in this genus, we investigate species boundaries within the controversial Andrena proxima‐complex using a dataset of ultra‐conserved elements and various species delimitation analyses (admixture analyses, BPP, DAPC). Our results confirm the presence of three separate species in this species group (Andrena proxima (Kirby), A. ampla Warncke and A. alutacea Stöckhert) and suggest very low levels of interspecific gene flow. Andrena proxima and A. alutacea are regularly found in sympatry, suggesting an advanced stage of speciation. By contrast, A. ampla shows a parapatric distribution with both other species. Andrena alutacea harbours a unique strain of Wolbachia Hertig, absent in the other two species, which are infected by the two same strains of Wolbachia. In addition, the three species have distinct phenologies, with A. proxima flying earlier in the season and A. alutacea significantly later; the phenology of A. ampla is intermediate. Our results suggest that Wolbachia‐induced incompatibilities and phenological differences maintain species boundaries in this group. The most advanced stage of speciation is observed in the two species showing putatively incompatible strains of Wolbachia and strongly distinct phenologies, A. alutacea and A. proxima. We propose that the smaller differences in phenological differentiation between A. ampla and both other species may explain the observed pattern of parapatric distribution. We discuss how these factors may underlie the high diversification rate observed in other groups of Andrena, a genus characterized by particularly variable and short flying periods.

Contribution to bee fauna (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) of Poland. VII. The genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775. Part 3

The paper presents information about the following eight, either exceedingly rare or infrequently recorded species of short-tongued bees of the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 in Poland: A. (Lepidandrena) florivaga Eversmann, 1852; A. (Lepidandrena) rufizona Imhoff, 1834; A. (Melandrena) gallica Schmiedeknecht, 1883; A. (Micrandrena) enslinella Stoeckhert, 1924; A. (Micrandrena) nana (Kirby, 1802); A. (Micrandrena) nanula Nylander, 1848; A. (Micrandrena) pusilla Pérez, 1903; A. (Micrandrena) saxonica Stoeckhert, 1935. This is the third contribution concerning the rare species of the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 in Poland. The studies were conducted from 2010 to 2019, and ca. 24,000 specimens from both the museum and private collections of bees of the genus Andrena from Poland were identified. Currently, the Polish fauna has 96 taxa of mining bees of the genus Andrena. For each species, the following information is provided: short diagnosis, remarks on general distribution, bionomics, published records from Poland and confirmed Polish records based on studied collections, as well as current category of threat resulted from the studies.

Phylogeny, biogeography and diversification of the mining bee family Andrenidae

AbstractThe mining bees (Andrenidae) are a major bee family of over 3000 described species with a nearly global distribution. They are a particularly significant component of northern temperate ecosystems and are critical pollinators in natural and agricultural settings. Despite their ecological and evolutionary significance, our knowledge of the evolutionary history of Andrenidae is sparse and insufficient to characterize their spatiotemporal origin and phylogenetic relationships. This limits our ability to understand the diversification dynamics that led to the second most species‐rich genus of all bees, Andrena Fabricius, and the most species‐rich North American genus, Perdita Smith. Here, we develop a comprehensive genomic dataset of 195 species of Andrenidae, including all major lineages, to illuminate the evolutionary history of the family. Using fossil‐informed divergence time estimates, we characterize macroevolutionary dynamics, incorporate paleoclimatic information, and present our findings in the context of diversification rate estimates for all other bee tribes. We found that diversification rates of Andrenidae steeply increased over the past 15 million years, particularly in the genera Andrena and Perdita. This suggests that these two groups and the brood parasites of the genus Nomada Scopoli (Apidae), which are the primary cleptoparasitic counterparts of Andrena, are similar in age and represent the fastest diversifying lineages of all bees. Using our newly developed time frame of andrenid evolution, we estimate a late Cretaceous origin in South America for the family and reconstruct the past dispersal events that led to its present‐day distribution.

The type specimens of bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) deposited in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. Contribution IV. Family Andrenidae, genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775, species described by F. Morawitz.

The type specimens for names of bee taxa in the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 of family Andrenidae described by F. Morawitz and deposited in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg) are reviewed. Name-bearing types of 68 species are illustrated and detailed information is provided. Lectotypes are designated here for the following 32 nominal taxa: Andrena adjacens Morawitz, 1875, A. anthracina Morawitz, 1880, A. atrohirta Morawitz, 1893, A. croceiventris Morawitz, 1871, A. ehnbergi Morawitz, 1888, A. formosa Morawitz, 1877, A. glasunowi Morawitz, 1894, A. inconspicua Morawitz, 1871, A. laticeps Morawitz, 1877, A. melanura Morawitz, 1877, A. mongolica Morawitz, 1880, A. mucronata Morawitz, 1871, A. nigrobarbata Morawitz, 1871, A. nylanderi Morawitz, 1865, A. ochracea Morawitz, 1872, A. opaca Morawitz, 1868, A. orbitalis Morawitz, 1871, A. paliuri Morawitz, 1877, A. pretiosa Morawitz, 1893, A. ranunculorum Morawitz, 1877, A. rotundilabris Morawitz, 1877, A. sahlbergi Morawitz, 1888, A. salicina Morawitz, 1877, A. schencki Morawitz, 1866, A. semirubra Morawitz, 1875, A. sexguttata Morawitz, 1877, A. sylvatica Morawitz, 1877, A. transitoria Morawitz, 1871, A. truncatilabris Morawitz, 1877, A. tscheki Morawitz, 1872, A. virago Morawitz, 1894, A. curiosa Morawitz, 1877.

Andrena species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Andrenidae) from Western Algeria, with a preliminary assessment of their pollen preferences

Summary Algeria, the largest country in Africa, has a species rich bee fauna because of its ecological conditions, climate and diversified flora. The present work represents a list of the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 in western Algeria. The survey, carried out during the period 2017–2019, has allowed identification of 56 species of Andrena in a total of 787 specimens (496 females, 291 males), with one species new for the fauna of Algeria, Andrena (Aenandrena) hystrix Schmiedeknecht, 1883. Preliminary pollen preferences of the most common species were analysed in Algeria for the first time, comprising seven polylectic and 12 oligolectic species. The current work provides a baseline for future studies on the diet of Andrena and is one of the first studies on the floral preferences of North African bees.

New data on bees of the genus Andrena Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) from Tyva Republic, Russia

New data on bees of the genus Andrena Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) from Tyva Republic, Russia

A new species of Andrena (Trachandrena) from the Southwestern United States (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae)

A new species of Andrena Fabricius, 1775, subgenus Trachandrena Robertson, 1902 is described and illustrated, A. hadfieldisp. nov., from Arizona, United States. The new species, presently known only from the female holotype, was collected in a Malaise trap in 1994, and remained unstudied until recently. In addition, Trachandrena is compared to similar subgenera in North America to assist in recognizing new members.

On the subgeneric placement of Andrena kraussi Michener (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)

A new subgenus is described for Andrena kraussi Michener (Andreninae) from Panama and Costa Rica, as Zophandrena subgen. n. Modified couplets to the existing key to New World subgenera of Andrena Fabricius are provided in order to properly identify the group.

Contribution to Bee Fauna (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) of Poland. VI. The Genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775. PART 2

Abstract The paper presents new records of the following six very rare or scarcely recorded species of short-tongued bees of the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 in Poland: A. (Simandrena) congruens Schmiedeknecht, 1883; A. (Taeniandrena) lathyri Alfken, 1899; A. (Simandrena) lepida Schenck, 1861; A. (Poliandrena) polita Smith, 1847; A. (Suandrena) suerinensis Friese, 1884 and A. (Poliandrena) tarsata Nylander, 1848. This is the second contribution concerning the rare species of the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 in Poland. The studies were based on museum collections as well as the author’s own collections. During the research, approximately 21,000 specimens of mining bees of the genus Andrena from Poland were identified representing ninety-five taxa. The species discussed in the paper are known from just a few records in the country. The following information is provided for each species: short diagnosis, remarks on general distribution, bionomics, published records from Poland and confirmed Polish records based on studied collections. The text is accompanied by SEM micrographs showing diagnostic characters and distribution maps.

First host record of Myopa pellucida Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Conopidae) identified using DNA barcoding.

Thick-headed flies of the genus Myopa Fabricius are a common sight in early spring in Europe. Several species can be found flying among Salix catkins together with their supposed Andrena Fabricius hosts (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (John Smit observations). Despite the fact that some of these Myopa species are very common, little is known about their actual host-parasitoid associations. Only a few scattered host records can be found in the literature, most of which refer to M. testacea s.l.. Whether or not these records actually concern M. testacea (Linnaeus) is uncertain due to the confusion over the identity of several species within the M. testacea species group (Stuke Clements 2008). Stuke (2017), in his World Catalogue of Conopids, provides all recorded host associations and distinguishes between unambiguously accepted host records and doubtful records based on three criteria: 1) the conopid has been reared from the host or a larva has been identified by DNA barcoding; 2) there is no doubt concerning the identity of the conopid species concerned, and 3) there is no doubt concerning the identity of the host species. Because the vast majority of the host records in the literature do not fulfil one or more of these criteria they are regarded as doubtful (Stuke 2017). Thus, only three host associations for the genus Myopa can be regarded as confirmed: Andrena vaga Panzer, for both M. hirsuta Stuke Clements (Jentzsch 2009) and M. testacea (Erteld 1998, Fellendorf et al. 2004, De Meijere 1912), and the Nearctic Andrena regularis Malloch, for the Holarctic M. vicaria Walker (Miliczky Osgood 1995). Here we report on a fourth host association for the genus Myopa, since a second instar larva of M. pellucida Robineau-Desvoidy was found in the abdomen of an Andrena nitida (Müller) female and identified using DNA barcoding.

Climate and habitat influences on bee community structure in Western Canada

The persistence of pollinators in a given habitat is determined in part by traits that affect their response to environmental variables. Here, we show that climate and habitat features are the main drivers of trait distribution in bees across spatially separated habitats. We determined that trait and clade filtering results in bee assemblages in Western Canada exhibiting clustering that is correlated with differences in temperature, humidity, and rainfall. Phylogenetic signals were detected in all traits associated with pollinator life-history strategies, including phenology. The Bombus Latreille, 1802 clade (including the social parasite subgenus Psithyrus Lepeletier, 1833) comprised a higher proportion of prairie bees, whereas assemblages in Garry oak sites exhibited higher representation from solitary bees (e.g., genera Osmia Panzer, 1806, Andrena Fabricius, 1775, Ceratina Latreille, 1802). Because these same traits influence which plant species are pollinated, this selective environmental occupancy within the two different habitats could promote local adaptation of flowering plant species pollinated by more social clades in prairies and more solitary bees in Garry oak.

Contribution to Bee Fauna (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) of Poland. V. The Genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775. Part I

Abstract The paper presents new records of the following six very rare or scarcely recorded species of short-tongued bees of the genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 in Poland: A. (Notandrena) nitidiuscula Schenck, 1853; A. (Lepidandrena) pandellei Perez, 1895; A. (Lepidandrena) paucisquama Noskiewicz, 1924; A. (Notandrena) pontica Warncke, 1972; A. (Poecilandrena) potentillae Panzer, 1809 and A. (Poecilandrena) viridescens Viereck, 1916. The studies were based on museum collections as well as the author’s own collections. During the research approximately 21,000 specimens, representing 95 taxa, of mining bees of the genus Andrena from Poland were identified. The species discussed in the paper are known from single or just a few stands in the country. The following information is provided for each species: short diagnosis, remarks on general distribution, bionomics, published records from Poland and confirmed Polish records based on studied collections. The text is accompanied by SEM micrographs showing diagnostic characters and distribution maps.

Eight new species of Andrena Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Andrenidae) from Israel-a Mediterranean hotspot for wild bees.

More than 150 solitary bee species of the genus Andrena Fabricius are known from Israel and the West Bank, where they are distributed along a broad climatic gradient and diverse habitats and vegetation types. Extensive collecting throughout Israel in recent years has yielded eight new species and one new subspecies, adding to the rich bee fauna of the region: A. crocusella Pisanty & Scheuchl n. sp., A. danini Pisanty & Scheuchl n. sp., A. hermonella Scheuchl & Pisanty n. sp., A. israelica Scheuchl & Pisanty n. sp., A. judaea Scheuchl & Pisanty n. sp., A. menahemella Scheuchl & Pisanty n. sp., A. palaestina Pisanty & Scheuchl n. sp., A. perahia Pisanty & Scheuchl n. sp., and A. sphecodimorpha mediterranea Pisanty & Scheuchl n. ssp. The previously unknown female of A. fimbriatoides Scheuchl 2004 and male of A. wolfi Gusenleitner & Scheuchl 2000 are also described here for the first time. The discovery of males of A. wolfi lead us to reinstate A. iohannescaroli Nobile 2000 as a valid taxon. Detailed morphological description and differential diagnosis against closest relatives are provided for all species, as well as information on the distribution, phenology and flower visitation, when available. A neotype is designated for A. sphecodimorpha Hedicke, the holotype of which is considered to be lost. Additional collecting efforts in diverse habitats and seasons, incorporating diverse collecting techniques, are required in order to deepen our knowledge of the rich bee fauna in threatened habitats in the Mediterranean Basin, which constitutes one of the world's major hotspots for wild bees.

A survey on family Andrenidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in Gorgan County, Iran

We present the results of a survey of the andrenid bee fauna of Gorgan County, Golestan province, Iran between 2014 and 2015. The survey led to the identification of twenty-three species of the genus Andrena Fabricius and Melitturga Latreille belonging to subgenera Campylogaster (1 species), Chlorandrena (1 species), Holandrena (2 species), Hoplandrena (1 species), Melanapis (1 species), Melandrena (4 species), Micrandrena (4 species), Nobandrena (1 species), Notandrena (1 species), Plastandrena (2 species), Simandrena (1 species), Truncandrena (1 species), Zonandrena (2) and Melitturga (1 species). Of these, eight and six species are new to the fauna of Iran and Asia, respectively.

Taxonomic and Behavioral Components of Faunal Comparisons Over Time: The Bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) of Boulder County, Colorado, Past and Present

Historical and recent studies of Boulder County, Colorado (USA) bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) illustrate the potential and the pitfalls of using comparative collection data to evaluate faunal composition and change over time. A compilation of bee records from Boulder County (Scott et al. 2011) is used as a basis for re-examining the comparison of an historical data set (Cockerell 1907) with a recent one (Kearns and Oliveras 2009a,b). Despite numerical comparability reported by Kearns and Oliveras, the taxonomic and behavioral composition of these data sets differ markedly from each other and, in different ways, from that of the subset of bee species common to both and from the total fauna documented from Boulder County. The rank order of species richness across bee families and across cohorts of bees with different social behaviors and feeding preferences do not covary among data sets: taxonomically, colletids, andrenids and megachilids are relatively under-represented in the more recent data set, in which halictids are better represented than any other family. Behaviorally, parasitic and oligolectic solitary species are less well represented in both datasets, the paucity of Andrena Fabricius spp. being especially conspicuous in the more recent of the two, which is dominated by polylectic social bees. Ensemble comparisons of raw species richness may mask differences in the readiness with which bees with different taxonomic affiliations, social behaviors, and degrees of host plant specificity lend themselves to being sampled, and possibly to their appearing to undergo faunal turnover. When these behaviors are taken into account, these comparisons imply either (1) impacts, in descending order of severity, on parasitic bees, oligolectic solitary bees, and polylectic solitary bees or (2) the relative ineffectiveness with which these classes of bees are sampled with generalized pan- or bowl-trapping techniques. Seasonally limited summer sampling protocols may favor polylectic social bees, as reflected in halictids' being disproportionately well-sampled relative to andrenids, which account for a majority of early season oligolectic solitary bees—ironically those of potentially greatest interest when evaluating the stability of pollinator faunal diversity. By virtue of their abundance and protracted flight seasons, in contrast, eusocial bees appear to be among the most readily sampled, though potentially less relevant to the purposes of evaluating the integrity of animal-pollinated plant communities.