Andrena (Melandrena) nitida (Müller, 1776)

Wood, Thomas James, Cross, Ian & Baldock, David W., 2020, Updates to the bee fauna of Portugal with the description of three new Iberian Andrena species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), Zootaxa 4790 (2), pp. 201-228 : 218-219

Andrena (Melandrena) nitida (Müller, 1776)

Distribution: Europe ( Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002), though highly confused and subject to revision.

Discussion: The identity of the large predominantly black and brown Andrena in Europe and the Mediterranean basin continues to pose problems. Of these, Andrena nitida , A. thoracica (Fabricius, 1775) , and Andrena limata Smith, 1853 have been particularly confused, with numerous subspecies and combinations proposed. Andrena limata mixtura Warncke, 1967 ( Figures 31–32 ) was originally described with a locus typicus in central Portugal ( Warncke, 1967). However, with no written justification, he later formally moved the subspecies to A. nitida (Warncke 1976, though because of publication delays he actually used this combination a year before in a treatment on North Africa, Warncke 1974). This confusion persisted to Gusenleitner & Schwarz (2002), who although they list the name mixtura as a synonym of A. limata , the distribution map of Warncke that they present is for A. nitida with material in central and southern Iberia and north-western Africa separated as A. n. mixtura.

Examining the type series directly, the holotype of A. l. mixtura has dark hairs on the propodeum ( Figure 33 ), the defining characteristic as proposed by Warncke (1967). However, this is not consistent and two of the paratype females (Playa de Aro, Gerona, Spain; Catalonia, Beceite, Spain) have light brown hairs on the propodeum, with the specimen from Beceite almost entirely brown haired on the propodeum. The hind tibial spine is pale red ( Figure 34 ), in line with both A. nitida and A. limata . Recent records of A. limata from central Portugal close to the locus typicus show variation in the extent of black hairs on the propodeum. These Portuguese individuals also show bivoltine behaviour which is typical for A. limata but not for A. nitida which flies only in the spring, and the type series contains both spring and summer individuals (e.g from Catalonia, see below).

On this basis, the form mixtura is returned to its original combination with A. limata comb. nov. We have seen no Portuguese material corresponding to true A. nitida and it is therefore removed from the Portuguese list. Andrena nitida is present in cooler regions of northern Iberia (e.g. provinces of Burgos and Santander, TJW unpublished data), just like other typical species of central and northern Europe such as Nomada flava Panzer, 1798 ( Fidalgo et al. 2019), but based on its ecology it is extremely likely to be absent away from these temperate areas, and certainly absent from regions with a clear Mediterranean influence.

Material examined: Andrena limata mixtura type series: MOROCCO: Ifrane , 18.vii.1931, 1♀, leg. A. Nadig ; Koudia , 19.iii.1969, 1♀, leg. J.N. Tasei ; PORTUGAL: Carcavelhos , 29.iv.1956, 1♀, leg. N.F. d’Andrade (holotype) ; Coimbra, Ponte da Portela , 30.iii.1968, 1♂, leg. M.A. Diniz ; SPAIN: Catalonia, Arenys , 15.iv.1929, 1♀, leg. Zariquiey (paratype) ; Playa de Aro, Gerona , 1♀, leg. H. Pochon (paratype) ; Catalonia, Beceite , 16.vii.1923, 1♀, leg. Zariquiey (paratype) ; Alicante, Orihuela , 30.v.1925, 1♀, leg. Andréu (paratype) ; 8.iv.1925, 1♀, leg. Andréu; 16.vi.1949, 1♂, leg. Andréu; (illegible), 8.vi.1912, 1♂, leg. J.M. Dusmet y Alonso; Barcelona , 7.vii.1898, 1♂ ; TUNISIA: 2 km E Menzel Bourguiba , 28.iii.1976, 1♀, leg. P. Robinson.

Other Andrena limata from close to the locus typicus: PORTUGAL: Mafra, 1.iii–30.iv.2012, 4♀; Ninho de Águia, Alcobaça, 18.iii.2019, 1♂, leg. T. J. Wood; Sesimbra , 3.vi.2011, 1♀, leg. A. Livory & R. Coulomb; Torres Ve- dras , 14.iv.2011, 3♀, leg. J. Franco; 12.iv.2013, 1♀, leg. C. Reis; 29.v.2012, 1♀, leg. C. Reis; Valado Nazaré, 27.iv.2000, 1♀, leg. M. Jenner; Fátima, Ourém, 30.vi.1969, 1♂; 9.vii.1969, 1♂, Mendoça Colln., Lisbon ; Go- legã, Paul do Boquílobo , 25.iv.1997, 1♀, leg. M. Jenner; Santarem , 20.iv.1986, 1♂, Mendoça Colln., Lisbon .

Figures

FIGURES 31–34. 31. Andrena limata mixtura Warncke, 1967, holotype. 31. female dorsal view, 32. female profile, 33. female propodeum, 34. female hind tibial spur.