Protandrena

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Protandrena
Protandrena mexicanorum female.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Andrenidae
Subfamily: Panurginae
Tribe: Protandrenini
Genus: Protandrena
Cockerell, 1896
Subgenera (disputed; see text)

Protandrena is a genus of mining bees in the family Andrenidae. Depending upon whose definition of the genus one follows, there are anywhere from 50 to 180 described species in Protandrena; traditional classifications recognize 7 subgenera, some of which are sometimes elevated to genus rank, and other classifications place many of these species in the related genus Pseudopanurgus (e.g. [1] ), leaving Protandrena with a much smaller constituency. [2] In the most inclusive definition, they are found from Canada through Argentina. [3] However, there is current disagreement whether the Protandrena in South America belong to different genera, in which case the genus extends only as far south as Panama. [4] They are solitary bees, but some species nest in aggregations. [4] [5] They prefer to nest in sunny areas with sparse vegetation. The underground nests have cells lined with a chemical substance. This "wallpaper" acts as a barrier between fungi and bacteria. The eggs hatch, the larvae develop, and then overwinter as mature larvae with hardened skin. [5] They are primarily active from May to October, but have been noted to be active in April in the region six of the United States. [5]

Contents

There are specialists and generalist found in the genus Protandrena. One notable specialist is Protandrenaabdominalis, whom specializes on Monarda (bee balm). [5]

cuckoo bees in the genus Holcopasites have been found as nest parasites of Protandrena. [5]

Morphology

Protandrena are typically slender black bees. They frequently have yellow on the face and pronotum. They may have red on the metasoma. They rarely have a green or blue tint. The forewings will have two or three submarginal cells. The photo to the right shows submarginal cells (on Lasioglossum). The three submarginal cells are near the top of the wing. [3]

The wing of Lasioglossum (subgenus Dialictus) illustrating submarginal cells Lasioglossum cf Dialictus 2 F (16737869262).jpg
The wing of Lasioglossum (subgenus Dialictus) illustrating submarginal cells

Other Identifying characteristics include [3]

Etymology

Protandrena means "basic Andrena ". This is referring to the facial similarities to Andrena [5]

Selected species

Data sources: i = ITIS, [6] c = Catalogue of Life, [7] g = GBIF, [8] b = Bugguide.net [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megachilidae</span> Cosmopolitan family of bees

Megachilidae is a cosmopolitan family of mostly solitary bees. Characteristic traits of this family are the restriction of their pollen-carrying structure to the ventral surface of the abdomen, and their typically elongated labrum. Megachilid genera are most commonly known as mason bees and leafcutter bees, reflecting the materials from which they build their nest cells ; a few collect plant or animal hairs and fibers, and are called carder bees, while others use plant resins in nest construction and are correspondingly called resin bees. All species feed on nectar and pollen, but a few are kleptoparasites, feeding on pollen collected by other megachilid bees. Parasitic species do not possess scopae. The motion of Megachilidae in the reproductive structures of flowers is energetic and swimming-like; this agitation releases large amounts of pollen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuckoo bee</span> Kleptoparasitic bee lineages

The term cuckoo bee is used for a variety of different bee lineages which have evolved the kleptoparasitic behaviour of laying their eggs in the nests of other bees, reminiscent of the behavior of cuckoo birds. The name is perhaps best applied to the apid subfamily Nomadinae, but is commonly used in Europe to mean bumblebees Bombus subgenus Psithyrus. Females of cuckoo bees are easy to recognize in almost all cases, as they lack pollen-collecting structures and do not construct their own nests. They often have reduced body hair, abnormally thick and/or heavily sculptured exoskeleton, and saber-like mandibles, although this is not universally true; other less visible changes are also common.

<i>Hylaeus</i> (bee) Genus of insects

Hylaeus is a large and diverse cosmopolitan genus within the bee family Colletidae. This genus is also known as the yellow-faced bees or masked bees. This genus is the only truly globally distributed colletid, occurring on all continents except Antarctica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrenidae</span> Family of bees

The Andrenidae are a large, nearly cosmopolitan family of solitary, ground-nesting bees. Most of the family's diversity is located in temperate or arid areas. It includes some enormous genera. One of the subfamilies, Oxaeinae, is so different in appearance that they were typically accorded family status, but careful phylogenetic analysis reveals them to be an offshoot within the Andrenidae, very close to the Andreninae.

<i>Andrena</i> Genus of bees

Andrena is a genus of bees in the family Andrenidae. With over 1,500 species, it is one of the largest genera of animals. It is a strongly monophyletic group that is difficult to split into more manageable divisions; currently, Andrena is organized into 104 subgenera. It is nearly worldwide in distribution, with the notable exceptions of Oceania and South America. Bees in this genus are commonly known as mining bees due to their ground-nesting lifestyle.  

Protandrena bachue is the type species of mining bee in the subgenus Andinopanurgus of genus Protandrena, first described by Victor H. González and Luisa Ruz in 2007.

<i>Macrotera</i> Genus of bees

Macrotera is a genus of bees native to North America, particularly diverse in the desert regions of the United States and Mexico. According to Wilson and Carril, there are "around 30" species of Macrotera. Macrotera are small to medium sized and often black or reddish in coloration. The genus was treated by P.H. Timberlake who, in addition to T.D.A. Cockerell, described most of the known species. Macrotera used to be considered part of the genus Perdita but was split apart by C.D. Michener in 2000. Most species are extreme specialists (oligoleges) with respect to pollen and will only collect pollen from a few closely related species or genera of plants, particularly the plant genus Sphaeralcea and various Cactaceae.

<i>Calliopsis</i> (bee) Genus of bees

Calliopsis is a genus of panurgine bees in the family Andrenidae. There are over 80 described species distributed throughout the western hemisphere.

Conanthalictus is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae. There are about 13 described species in Conanthalictus.

<i>Dianthidium</i> Genus of bees

Dianthidium is a genus of leafcutter, mason, and resin bees in the family Megachilidae. There are at least 20 described species in Dianthidium.

<i>Pseudopanurgus</i> Genus of insects

Pseudopanurgus is a genus of mining bees in the family Andrenidae. There are at least 130 described species in Pseudopanurgus. Pseudopanurgus bees often have 2 submarginal cells in their forewings. Their sizes range from 3 mm to 10 mm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protandrenini</span> Tribe of bees

Protandrenini is a tribe of mining bees in the family Andrenidae. There are at least 12 genera and at least 380 described species in Protandrenini.

Pseudopanurgus fraterculus is a species of bee in the family Andrenidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

<i>Andrena astragali</i> Species of miner bee in the family Andrenidae

Andrena astragali, the death camas miner bee or death camas bee, is a species of miner bee in the family Andrenidae. It is found in North America. It specializes in feeding on the highly poisonous Toxicoscordion venenosum, the meadow deathcamas, and close relatives. It is quite likely the only bee that can tolerate the deathcamas toxin, zygacine.

<i>Andrena accepta</i> Species of bee

The two-spotted miner bee is a species of miner bee in the family Andrenidae. It is found in Central America and North America. Members of the species have communal nests made of many cells. They live in desert scrub habitat. Their primary host plants belong to the genus Helianthus.

<i>Andrena prunorum</i> Species of bee

Andrena prunorum, otherwise known as the purple miner bee, is a species of solitary bees in the family Andrenidae. It is commonly found in the continental United States as well as much of North and Central America. Andrena prunorum is a spring-flying, ground-nesting bee that serves as a ubiquitous generalist in ecological settings. Both males and females live as prepupae in the winter in which they mate, and the females seek new sites for ground burrows. From there, they construct small cells surrounding a ball of pollen combined with nectar to nourish a laid egg before each cell is sealed, and the cycle begins anew. A. prunorum generally prefer the pollen derived from Rosaceae plants but will pollinate fruit trees if given the opportunity.

Andrena jessicae is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae. It is found in Central America and North America. This species is named after Jessie E. Casad, a co-author of Cockerell.

<i>Andrena lagopus</i> Species of bee

Andrena lagopus is a species of mining bees belonging to the family of Andrenidae.

References

  1. DiscoverLife: Pseudopanurgus
  2. DiscoverLife: Protandrena
  3. 1 2 3 Michener, Charles Duncan (2000). The Bees of the World. JHU Press. ISBN   9780801861338.
  4. 1 2 3 "Protandrena Genus Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wilson, Joseph, Messinger Carril, Olivia (2015). The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America's Bee Species. Princeton, New Jersey, United States: Princeton University Press. p. 83. ISBN   9780691160771.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. "Protandrena Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  7. "Browse Protandrena". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  8. "Protandrena". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-05-04.

Further reading