Andrena

Taxobox
name = "Andrena"

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Hymenoptera
familia = Andrenidae
subfamilia = Andreninae
genus = "Andrena"
genus_authority = Fabricius, 1775
subdivision_ranks = Subgenera
subdivision =
*"A. (Andrena)"
*"A. (Euandrena)"
*"A. (Margandrena)"
*"A. (Melandrena)"
*"A. (Micrandrena)"
*"A. (Notandrena)"
*"A. (Oreomelissa)"
*"A. (Plastandrena)"
*"A. (Poecilandrena)"
*"A. (Simandrena)"
*"A. (Ptilandrena)"
*"A. (Zonandrena)" "Andrena" is the largest genus in the family Andrenidae, and is nearly worldwide in distribution, with the notable exceptions of Oceania and South America. With over 1,300 species, it is one of the largest of all bee genera. Species are often brown to black with whitish abdominal hair bands, though other colors are possible, most commonly reddish, but also including metallic blue or green.

Body length commonly ranges between 8 - 17 mm with males smaller and more slender than females, which often show a black triangle (the "pygidial plate") at the abdominal apex. In temperate areas, "Andrena" bees (both males and females) emerge from the underground cells where their prepupae spend the winter, when the temperature ranges from about 20°C to 30°C. They mate, and the females then seek sites for their nest burrows, where they construct small cells containing a ball of pollen mixed with nectar, upon which an egg is laid, before each cell is sealed. "Andrena" usually prefer sandy soils for a nesting substrate, near or under shrubs to be protected from heat and frost.

"Andrena" females can be readily distinguished from most other small bees by the possession of broad velvety areas in between the compound eyes and the antennal bases, called "facial foveae". They also tend to have very long scopal hairs on the trochanters of the hind leg. Most species also have a well-developed "corbicula", or pollen basket, on the sides of the thorax; it is formed by an outer fringe of hairs and may or may not contain internal hairs.

References

*C. D. Michener (2007) "The Bees of the World", 2nd Edition, Johns Hopkins University Press.

External links

*http://www.bugguide.net (Search for Andrena or Andrenidae, North American species only).
* [http://www.cirrusimage.com/bees_Andrenidae_A_miserabilis.htm "Andrena miserabilis"] diagnostic photographs and information
* [http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Andrena_female Andrena Identification Guide (female)]
* [http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Andrena_male Andrena Identification Guide (male)]
* [http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Andrena List of Species]
* [http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20m?kind=Andrena_ Worldwide Species Map]