Andrena (Distandrena) merimna Saunders, 1908

Wood, Thomas James, Michez, Denis, Cejas, Diego, Lhomme, Patrick & Rasmont, Pierre, 2020, An update and revision of the Andrena fauna of Morocco (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Andrenidae) with the description of eleven new North African species, ZooKeys 974, pp. 31-92 : 31

Andrena (Distandrena) merimna Saunders, 1908

Material examined.

Morocco: Drâa-Tafilalet, Er-Rich, 1253 meters, 28.ii.2019, 3♂, 2♀, Moricandia foleyi , leg. O. Ihsane; Fès-Meknès, Laanoucer, 1387 meters, 11.v.2018, 1♀, leg. P. Lhomme & O. Ihsane, all UMONS.

Distribution and remarks.

Previously known only from Algeria and Tunisia ( Gusenleitner and Schwarz 2002). At 9 mm in length, this one of the larger Distandrena species, almost as large as Andrena fria Warncke, 1975 which is restricted to Spain. Female Moroccan material is very slightly more striate centrally on the clypeus than comparative material from Algeria and Tunisia, but the male genitalia are a clear match.

Other material examined.

Algeria: Biskra, 3.ii.1997, 1♀, OÖLM; Tunisia: 30 km N Foum Tatahouine, 15.ii.1992, 1♀, leg. Warncke, OÖLM; 21.ii.1992, 1♂, leg. Warncke, OÖLM.