3.1.1.5. Andrena (Micrandrena) leptura Warncke, 1974 stat. nov.

Andrena mariana ssp. leptura Warncke, 1974 b: 13, 40, ♀ ♂ [Egypt: OLML].

Distribution and habitat.

Desert habitats in the south-east Mediterranean. Newly reported from the Levant *, in southern Israel *.

Flight period.

Mid-January to mid-April.

Flower records.

Collected from Brassicaceae ( Diplotaxis, Zilla).

Remarks.

Molecular barcodes strongly suggest that this taxon is distinct (Fig. 1), and we hereby elevate it to species status. All subspecies of Andrena mariana erected by Warncke are now considered distinct at the species level (Wood 2023 a and the present work). See Andrena kugleri sp. nov. for a discussion of morphological differences among members of this group.

Material examined.

ISRAEL ● 2 ♀, 1 ♂; Arava, 4 km W of Hazeva; 19–29 Feb. 1988; R. Leys leg.; RMNH ● 1 ♀; ibid.; TJWC ● 1 ♀; Gerofit; 11 Mar. 1974; D. Furth leg.; SMNHTAU ● 1 ♀; Hazeva; 8 Feb. 2009; A. Gotlieb leg.; SMNHTAU 27043 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; 11 Feb. 2009; SMNHTAU 27078 ● 1 ♀; ibid.; 10 Mar. 2009; SMNHTAU 27290 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; SMNHTAU 27287 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; 13 Feb. 2010; on Zilla spinosa; SMNHTAU 57444 ● 3 ♀; Hazeva Field School; 30°43’N 35°15’E; 12 Mar. 1998; E. Askenazi leg.; Malaise trap; SMNHTAU ● 1 ♀; Iddan; 12 Mar. 2009; A. Gotlieb leg.; SMNHTAU 27440 ● 1 ♀; Makhtésh Ramon; 6 Apr. 1997; L. Friedman leg.; SMNHTAU ● 1 ♂; Nahal ‘ Ashosh, Rt. 90; 30°31.2’N 35°10.9’E; 22 m a. s. l.; 17 Feb. 2015; A. Freidberg leg.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 185-22; SMNHTAU 205081 ● 1 ♀; Nahal Gidron, 2.5 Km W Arava Hwy (90); 9 Mar. 1998; E. Ashkenazi leg.; SMNHTAU ● 1 ♀; Nahal Nemiyya, Rt. 90; 30°40.5’N 35°13.1’E; – 62 m a. s. l.; 8 Mar. 2010; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU 48066 ● 2 ♀; Nahal Sayif; 30.855°N 35.260°E; 13 Feb. 2016; G. Pisanty leg.; on Brassicaceae; SMNHTAU 234090, 234091 ● 1 ♀; ibid.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 218-22; SMNHTAU 234093 ● 4 ♂; ibid.; SMNHTAU 234094 to 234097 ● 1 ♀; Nahal Shahaq; 30°48’N 35°14’E; 22 Mar. 1998; E. Ashkenazi leg.; Malaise trap; SMNHTAU ● 1 ♀; Nahal Shahaq, Shezaf Nat. Res.; 30°44.83’N 35°15.10’E; 9 Mar. 1997; O. Niehuis leg.; SMNHTAU ● 8 ♀, 3 ♂; ibid.; 10 Mar. 1997 ● 2 ♀; ibid.; 30°44.16’N 35°14.51’E; 10 Mar. 1997; Malaise trap ● 1 ♀, 2 ♂; Nahal Shahaq, Shezaf Nat. Res.; 30°45.08’N 35°15.33’E; – 120 m a. s. l.; 19 Feb. 1997; O. Niehuis leg.; SMNHTAU ● 2 ♀, 4 ♂; ibid.; 30°45.39’N 35°15.58’E; 27 Feb. 1997 ● 1 ♀, 5 ♂; ibid.; 30°44.26’N 35°14.58’E; 2 Mar. 1997 ● 13 ♀, 6 ♂; ibid.; 4 Mar. 1997 ● 5 ♀; ibid.; I. Yarom leg. ● 3 ♀; Nahal Shezaf; 30.722°N 35.270°E; 14 Feb. 2016; G. Pisanty leg.; on Brassicaceae; SMNHTAU 234071 to 234073; ● 1 ♂; ibid.; SMNHTAU 234070 ● 1 ♀; Nahal Shezaf NR; – 134 m a. s. l.; 30 Mar. 2011; A. Dorchin leg.; TJWC ● 1 ♀; NahalNizzana, Rt. 171; 750 m a. s. l.; 2 Apr. 2014; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU 178619 ● 1 ♂; Ramon; 10 Mar. 1974; D. Furth leg.; SMNHTAU ● 2 ♀; Ramon Rd.; 11 Mar. 1974; D. Furth leg.; SMNHTAU ● 1 ♂; Shizzafon; 30.0435°N 35.023°E; 27 Feb. 2015; G. Pisanty leg.; SMNHTAU 205469 ● 2 ♀; Wadi Segur, 40 km NW Eilat; 17 Apr. 1990; Warncke leg.; OLML ● 1 ♀; Yotvata (Hay Bar) Nature Reserve; 27 Feb. 2015; G. Pisanty leg.; on Brassicaceae; SMNHTAU 205518 ● 1 ♀; Zofar; 12 Mar. 2009; H. Carmely leg.; SMNHTAU 27883 ● 1 ♀; Zofar; 13 Mar. 2009; G. Pisanty leg.; on Zilla spinosa; SMNHTAU 27800.