Bryandrena subgen. nov.

Wood, Thomas J., 2023, The genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 in the Iberian Peninsula (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 96, pp. 241-484 : 241

Subgenus Bryandrena subgen. nov.

Type species.

Andrena florea Fabricius, 1793.

Diagnosis.

Bryandrena is monotypic, and hence diagnosis of A. florea is de facto diagnosis of the subgenus. The combination of broad head (Fig. 41B, F ; 1 .3-1.4 times broader than long), the inner margins of the compound eyes diverging ventrally, humeral angle (stronger in male), punctate clypeus with underlying surface shiny over the majority of its area, propodeal triangle not defined by lateral carinae and comparatively smooth relative to the microreticulate dorsolateral parts of the propodeum (Fig. 41C ), terga that are always at least partially red-marked (Fig. 41D, G ), unmodified posterior face of the hind femur (without teeth, carinae, or spines), lack of squamous hairs, simple hind tibial spur (not broadened basally or medially), black male clypeus, and unique genital capsule (Fig. 41H ; see description below) allows separation from any other Andrena species.

Description.

Medium-sized bees (11-13 mm), integument predominantly dark, with red markings on at least one tergum, sometimes all terga extensively red marked. Head broad, 1.3-1.4 times wider than long, inner margins of compound eyes diverging ventrally. Gena slightly exceeding width of compound eye in females, clearly exceeding width of compound eye in males; ocelloccipital distance 1.5-2 times diameter of lateral ocellus. Facial fovea broad, occupying ¾ of distance between lateral ocellus and inner margin of compound eye. Pronotum laterally with humeral angle, more pronounced in male sex. Dorsolateral surface of propodeum microreticulate, with weakly raised reticulation; propodeal triangle poorly defined laterally, comparatively smooth and lacking microreticulation, basally with raised rugosity covering variable extent, never entire propodeal triangle. Forewing with nervulus interstitial. Terga regularly and densely punctate, punctures separated by 1 puncture diameter. Male genital capsule strongly elongate, gonocoxae essentially truncate with inner margin rounded, gonostyli apically produced, elongate, strongly flattened and spatulate, 3 times longer than broad; penis valves basally broad, strongly narrowing medially to become elongate and acutely pointed apically.

Etymology.

The name is taken from the pollen host plant Bryonia ( Cucurbitaceae ) which ultimately derives from the Greek βρυωνία [ bruōnía]. Andrena florea can be found frequently almost wherever Bryonia species are in flower. The gender is feminine.

Included species.

Andrena florea (West Palaearctic, from Morocco and Iberia to Iran and the Ural Mountains; Gusenleitner and Schwarz 2002).

Figures

Figure 1. Phylogenetic tree (maximum likelihood) of Andrena from the subgenera Andrena Aciandrena Warncke, 1968, Andrena Aenandrena Warncke, 1968 sensu lato, Andrena Graecandrena Warncke, 1968, Andrena Poecilandrena Hedicke, 1933, and the Andrena numida - group based on the mitochondrial COI gene. Andrena (incertae sedis) Andrena relata Warncke, 1975 is used as an outgroup. Numbers adjacent to branches represent bootstrap support (values of <75 are omitted).

Figure 41. Andrena (Bryandrena) florea Fabricius, 1793, female A profile B head, frontal view C propodeum, dorsal view D dorsal view; male E profile F face, frontal view G terga, dorsal view H genital capsule.