Reprinted with permission of the University of Nebraska State Museum from:
LaBerge, W. E. 1967. A revision of the bees of the genus Andrena of the Western Hemisphere. Part I. Callandrena (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae). Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 7: 1-316.
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This large eastern species is closely related 10 A. helianthi. The female of braccata can be told from that of helianthi by the large rhomboidal clypeal process, the tessellate terga, and the hairless, or almost hairless, interior of the propodeal corbicula. The male of braccata can be separated from the male of helianthi by the larger clypeal process, the more tessellate terga, the darker tibiae, the darker wing veins, and the usually more coarsely sculptured propodeal enclosure as is described below.
FEMALE. MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. — N = 20; length, 10.5-14.0 mm; width, 3.5-5.0 mm; wing length, M = 4.68 ± 0.185 mm; FL/FW, M = 0.94 ± 0.003; FOVL/FOVW, M = 2.73 ± 0.041.
INTEGUMENTAL COLOR. — Black except as follows: flagellar segments 3-10 usually slightly rufescent below; mandible with apical third rufescent; tegulae rufescent; wing membranes slightly infumate in outer fourths, veins dark brown to black; tergal apices rufescent; sternal apical areas hyaline, yellow; distitarsi rufescent; tibial spurs yellow.
STRUCTURE. — Scape as in helianthi; flagellar segment 1 equal in length to segments 2 plus 3 or slightly longer, segment 2 subequal to 3 and shorter than segment 4. Eye about three and one-half times as long as broad, inner margins converging slightly toward mandibles. Malar space linear, from five to six times as broad as long. Mandible as in helianthi. Galea and maxillary palpus as in helianthi but palpal segments in ratio of about 1.8:1.6:1.0:1.0:1.0:1.3. Labial palpus as in helianthi but segments in ratio of about 1.8:1.0:0.5:5.7. Labral process large, rhomboidal in outline, apicomedial shallow emargination usually present, occasionally almost rectangular. Clypeus not much flattened medially; protruding beyond ends of eyes by about one-third median clypeal length; punctures round, mostly shallow, laterally separated by one-half to one puncture width, sparser towards midline which is broadly impunctate, surface dulled by coarse reticulotransverse shagreening. Supraclypeal area dulled by fine, shallow, crowded punctures and coarse reticular shagreening. Genal area broader than eye as in helianthi, punctures sparse, separated mostly by 2 to 3 puncture widths except near eye margin more crowded, surface dulled by fine reticular shagreening. Vertex short, above lateral ocellus equals about one and one-half ocellar diameters, largely impunctate but dulled by coarse tessellation. Face above antennal fossae as in helianthi but moderately shiny and some longitudinal rugulae between facial fovea and lateral ocellus to dissiuate (sic) above apex of fovea. Facial fovea as in helianthi but upper end separated from lateral ocellus by about three-fourths ocellar diameter.
Pronotum normal, surface tessellate, punctures minute, sparse, obscure. Mesoscutum, scutellum and metanotum with large, shallow, sparse punctures obscured by regular, coarse tessellation dulling surfaces. Propodeum with enclosure as in helianthi but irregular fine rugulae at base more extensive, may cover basomedial fourth of enclosure; dorsolateral and posterior surfaces with large, shallow punctures mostly separated by one to two puncture widths and mostly interconnected by extremely fine, irregular rugulae, surface dulled by tessellation; corbicular area moderately shiny, regularly and coarsely tessellate. Mesepisternum similar to posterior propodeal surface but punctures closer and more distinct. Metepisternum like corbicular area below. Middle basitarsus not markedly expanded medially, with evenly curved sides and slightly narrower than hind basitarsus. Tibial spurs and claws normal. Front wing with venation as in helianthi.
Metasomal terga 1-4 with minute, widely separated, indistinct punctures, surfaces regularly and finely tessellate, dull, apical areas slightly depressed. Tergum 5 similar but punctures more abundant and distinct. Pygidial plate V-shaped with truncate apex, 1101 arrow. Sterna 2-5 as in helianthi.
VESTITURE. — Generally pale ochraceous to ochraceous in color, darker above than at sides or below. Tergum 1 without hair except at sides, without apical fascia. Terga 2-4 with apical white fascia usually interrupted medially on tergum 2; basal areas glabrous. Terga 5 and 6 with long yellow to white hairs. Sterna 2-5 with long, suberect, ochraceous hairs somewhat more concentrated and longest near apical hyaline areas. Propodeal corbicula without internal hairs or with only 3 or 4 long hairs internally near dorsal fringe; incomplete anteriorly; dorsal fringe slightly shorter than normal, especially anteriorly. Trochanteral flocculus complete, well developed. Tibial scopal hairs highly plumose throughout, of normal length. Leg hairs ochraceous to pale ochraceous except inner surfaces tarsi yellow.
MALE. MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. — N = 20; length, 9.0-12.0 mm; width, 2.5-3.5; wing length, M = 4.04 ± 0.148 mm; FL/FW, M = 0.98 ± 0.006; FS1/FS2, M = 1.77 ± 0.027.
INTEGUMENTAL COLOR. — As in female except as follows: clypeus yellow except blown apical margin and small dark maculae mesad and below tentorial pits; tegula testaceous to rufescent; wing veins dark reddish-brown; terga 1-6 apically hyaline, somewhat rufescent near bases of hyaline areas; sterna 2-6 narrowly hyaline apically, rufescent just basad of hyaline areas; distitarsi dark red to yellowish, middle and hind basitarsi rufescent, apex of hind tibia often rufescent.
STRUCTURE. — Antenna in general as in helianthi; scape distinctly shorter than segments 1-3; flagellar segment 1 shorter than segments 2 plus 3, segment 2 shorter than 3, and 3 subequal to 4. Eye about three and one-third times as long as broad, inner margins converging distinctly toward mandibles. Malar space, mandibles and galea as in female. Maxillary palpus as in female but segments in ratio of about 1.4:1.0:0.9:0.9:0.8:1.0. Labial palpus as in female but segments in ratio of about 1.7:1.0:0.6:0.9. Labral process as in female. Clypeus and supraclypeal area as in female but clypeus with punctures smaller, more evenly distributed, medially separated by about 2 to 3 puncture widths, and shagreening often absent medially, although surface dulled peripherally. Genal area, vertex, and face above antennal fossae as in female but vertex usually slightly shorter. Sculpture of thorax as in female except as follows: propodeal enclosure usually with basal half or slightly more roughened by irregular, fine, anastomizing rugulae; lateral propodeal surface with sparse, indistinct, shallow punctures in upper half. Wings, claws and tibial spurs as in female. Terga 1-5 as in terga 1-4 of female but minute punctures slightly more evident in basal areas, separated mostly by 3 to 5 puncture widths, in apical areas by less. Tergum (5 as in female tergum 5. Sterna 2-5 with apical hyaline areas impunctate, basal areas with punctures separated mostly by 2 to 4 puncture widths, sparser at extreme bases, surfaces dulled by regular, reticular shagreening. Tergum 6 flat, not reflexed, with deep, median, V-shaped, apical emargination.
Genital capsule and sterna 7 and 8 (Figs. 74-78) as figured. Note the following structures: gonoforceps blunt; penis valve tips knobbed; volsellae large; sternum 7 with deep, V-shaped, apical emargination; sternum 8 with neck broadened medially, apex narrow and entire.
VESTITURE. — White to ochraceous, darker on vertex and dorsum of thorax than sides and below. Terga 1-5 with basal vestiture sparse, pale, with apical white fasciae which is very weak on tergum 1 and often narrowly interrupted on tergum 2. Terga 6 and 7 with long ochraceous hairs. Sterna 2-5 as in female but hairs shorter and less abundant. Leg hairs white to pale ochraceous except inner surfaces tarsi usually golden-yellow.
TYPE MATERIAL. — The lectotype female (USNM), here designated, was collected by H. L. Viereck at Rockville, Connecticut, August 23, 1905.
DISTRIBUTION. — A. braccata is known from the New England states south to Virginia (Fig. 7). Mitchell (1960, p. 142) states the distribution as west to Colorado, but I have not seen specimens from states west of the Atlantic seaboard. Perhaps misidentification of related species is responsible for this discrepancy. This species has been collected from August 20th through October 11th, chiefly during late August and September. In addition to the type material, 211 females and 46 males have been examined from the localities listed below. This list includes published records.
CONNECTICUT: Branford; Hartford; Lyme; New Canaan; New London; Rockville; Stafford; Storrs; Westbrook. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Washington. MAINE: Saco. MARYLAND: Bethesda; Cabin John; Glen Echo; Winthrop; Yarrow. MASSACHUSETTS: Beach Bluff; Boston; Bridgewater; Cambridge; Dedham; Dennis; Falmouth; Forest Hills; Framingham; Holliston; Milton; Needham; North Saugus; Reading Highlands; Sherborn; Somerset Heights. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Barnstead; Durham; Meredith; Pelham. NEW JERSEY: Clifton; Englewood; Carret Mts.; Kearny; Ramsey. NEW YORK: Amagan; Babylon, Long Island; Bedford; Flatbush, Long Island; Fleetwood; Long Island; Mosholu; New Rochelle; Nyack; Sea Cliff, Long Island; Tappan; Tuxedo Park; West Farms, New York City; White Plains. RHODE ISLAND: Scituate; Watch Hill. VIRGINIA: Falls Chinch; Kearny, Arlington Co.; Oakton.
FLORAL RECORDS. — A. braccata has been collected from only two genera of plants, Solidago and Aster, and seems to be an oligolege of the goldenrods (Solidago). It has been collected from Aster spp. (4 collections, 4 specimens), Solidago spp. (17 collections, 28 females and 12 males), S. nemoralis (2 collections, 7 females), and S. altissima (1 collection, 2 females).
Reprinted with permission from: Mitchell, T.B. 1960. Bees of the Eastern United States. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 141.
FEMALE — Length 13 mm.; clypeus very slightly convex, projecting slightly more than one-third below suborbital line, dull, very finely tessellate, impunctate medially, but becoming very finely, obscurely and rather closely punctate toward sides; facial foveae not very broad, occupying above slightly more than half of space between eyes and ocelli, covered with pale yellowish tomentum; space between margin of vertex and lateral ocelli slightly greater than their diameter; cheeks slightly broader than eyes, rounded posteriorly, rather dull, punctures exceedingly minute and obscure; malar space distinct, but rather short; basal segment of flagellum slightly longer than 2nd and 3rd combined; process of labrum rather large, subtriangular, rather broadly truncate and slightly emarginate apically; pubescence of head, thorax and legs entirely pale ochraceous; thoracic integument dull, rather densely tessellate, punctures of scutum visible only over anterior half where they are exceedingly minute, obscure and rather sparse, hardly visible, posterior half and scutellum entirely impunctate; pleura without visible punctures; dorsal area of propodeum oblique, triangle densely tessellate but finely roughened or subrugose medially toward base; propodeal corbicula rather short, without an anterior fringe, pale ochraceous; trochanteral floccus rather long and dense, pale ochraceous; hind tibiae rather slender and elongate, apex not much broader than basitarsi, scopa dense, of rather conspicuously plumose hairs, entirely pale ochraceous; front and middle basitarsi rather slender, slightly narrower than their respective tibiae; 2nd submarginal cell nearly equaling 3rd in length, receiving 1st recurrent about at middle; abdominal terga smooth, but dull, very finely tessellate, entirely impunctate, apical impressed areas shallow, quite narrow, with some minute, obscure and close punctures evident at extreme sides, discal pubescence practically lacking, terga 2-4 with narrow, whitish, apical fasciae; that on tergum 2 interrupted medially, tergum 5 with a pale brownish, apical fimbria.
MALE — Length 10 mm.; clypeus slightly convex, projecting but very slightly below suborbital line, yellow, except for two small black spots and the blackish apical rim, smooth and shining, very minutely punctate, punctures sparse medially, becoming quite close at extreme sides; space between margin of vertex and lateral ocelli slightly greater than their diameter; cheeks subequal to eyes in width, rather dull, punctures fine, but rather deep and close; malar space distinct but quite short; basal segment of flagellum slightly shorter than 2nd and 3rd combined; process of labrum rather broad and short, apex rather broadly truncate and slightly emarginate; mandibles quite short, with a slight inner subapical tooth, overlapping very slightly; pubescence of head, thorax and legs entirely whitish-ochraceous; thoracic integument dull, quite densely tessellate, punctures of scutum very shallow, fine and obscure, hardly visible, posterior portion and scutellum practically impunctate; pleura without visible punctures; dorsal area of propodeum nearly vertical, triangle densely tessellate, becoming finely roughened or subrugose medially toward base; basitarsi slender and elongate, considerably narrower than their respective tibiae, testaceous; 2nd submarginal cell subequal to 3rd, receiving 1st recurrent near middle; abdominal terga smooth, but dull, very finely tessellate, punctures inevident, apical impressed areas shallow and quite narrow, more or less reddened, discal pubescence extremely short, sparse and obscure, entirely pale, all terga with thin, whitish, apical fasciae, that on tergum 1 very obscure and widely interrupted; apical portion of sternum 8 rather robust, slightly narrowed toward the abruptly truncate apex, clothed beneath with rather short, dense pubescence; penis valves elongate, slightly broadened toward base, gonocoxites slender, hardly at all dilated apically, gonocoxal lobes quite strongly produced, triangular, with narrowly rounded tips.
DISTRIBUTION — The New England states to Colorado, south to Maryland; August to October.
FLOWER RECORDS — Solidago.
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