Andrena portosanctana, von Cockerell, 1922

Kratochwil, A., Schwabe, A. & Scheuchl, E., 2014, Andrena (Suandrena) portosanctana COCKERELL, 1922 and A. (Suandrena) maderensis COCKERELL, 1922 - new taxonomical and ecological data for two closely related endemic bee species of the Madeira Archipelago, Portugal, Linzer biologische Beiträge 46 (2), pp. 1535-1567 : 1555

A. portosanctana an endangered endemic species

A special conservation program should start to avoid extinction of the Porto Santo endemic A. portosanctana . This species probably has only a scattered distribution all over the island. Two populations with higher individual numbers of A. portosanctana were detected in March 2012 on two sites on the sandy beach with higher accumulations of the annual Cakile maritima subsp. maritima . All other seven localities were characterised by low individual numbers and by limitation of pollen resources of different Brassicaceae species. Because nesting sites are not a limitation factor, a support of Brassicaceae species could be helpful, to increase the population sizes of A. portosanctana . Further data, a long-term monitoring and suitable nature conservation measures are necessary to guarantee the survival of this endemic species.