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]

Protandrena
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Andrenidae
Subfamily: Panurginae
Tribe: Protandrenini
Genus: Protandrena
Cockerell, 1896
Subgenera (disputed; see text)

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

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

Morphology

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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

Other Identifying characteristics include [3]

  • middle tibial spur on the female that is finely toothed basally and becomes coarser distally; an exception to this is the South American subgenus Austropanurgus, where the spur is finely toothed throughout.
  • The male's last abdominal sternum has a pair of large distal lobes that are constricted at the base.
  • The gonostyli are more than half as long as the gonocoxites, with the apices articulated or partly fused. The South American subgenus Parasarus is an exception to this, with the gonostyli being less than 1/3 as long as the gonocoxites.

Etymology

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

Selected species

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

References

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  1. ^ DiscoverLife: Pseudopanurgus
  2. ^ DiscoverLife: Protandrena
  3. ^ a b c Michener, Charles Duncan (2000). The Bees of the World. JHU Press. ISBN 9780801861338.
  4. ^ a b c "Protandrena Genus Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  5. ^ a b c d e f 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

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