Reprinted with permission of the American Entomological Society from:
Ribble, D. W. 1974. A revision of the bees of the genus Andrena of the Western Hemisphere. Subgenus Scaphandrena. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 100: 101-189.
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This rare species is known only from the female sex which is very different but appears to be most closely related to Andrena merriami (a Timberlake determination label also indicates thus). The elevated and closely punctate clypeus, hooked tibial spurs, large (male-like) tooth on the tarsal claws, abundant, fine tibial scopal hairs, reduced scopa on the anteroapical part of the tibia are unique in at least North American Scaphandrena and make it necessary to describe a species which changes the subgeneric limits. When the male is known and if it is also unusual it might be wise to consider erecting a new subgenus for shoshoni. Andrena shoshoni also differs from other females in the merriami species group by the more extensive distribution of light-colored hairs and the light amber tibial spurs.
Andrena shoshoni appears not to be the female of vestali. One would expect the female of vestali to be larger, have a different clypeus (flat along the midline in profile), have a larger pterostigma and a more punctate abdomen.
The description below is based upon the holotype.
FEMALE. — MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. — Length, 9.0 mm; width, 2.6 mm; wing length, 6.5 mm; FL/FW, 1.09; FOVL/FOVW, 4.00.
INTEGUMENTAL COLOR. — Color as in merriami except all tibial spurs light amber.
STRUCTURE. — Flagellar segment 1 slightly shorter than segments 2 plus 3 and 4; antenna otherwise as in merriami. Eyes each 4.2 times as long as broad, inner margins as in merriami. Mandible and galea as in merriami. Stipes with long straight hairs. Labial palpus as in merriami but ratio about 1.0:0.5:0.5:1.0. Maxillary palpus as in merriami but ratio about 1.0:1.0: 0.8:1.0:0.8:1.0. Labral process large, apex broad, rounded at corners, slightly emarginate in center, elevated; labrum below process with several rugulae, moderately dull. Clypeus rounded from side to side, much elevated in center, with large punctures separated mostly by less than one puncture width, except midline mostly impunctate, surface dulled by weak reticular shagreening, shagreening absent apically. Supraclypeal area, face above antennal fossae and facial fovea as in merriami. Vertex above lateral ocellus normal, about as high as three-fourths ocellar diameter, dull. Genal area as in merriami but shagreening finer, shinier.
Pronotum as in merriami but shagreening finer. Mesoscutum as in merriami but shinier, punctures smaller and closer, except center with scattered punctures. Scutellum sculptured as mesoscutum. Propodeum as in merriami but shinier, dorsal area with fewer, less distinct rugulae. Mesepisternum as in merriami. Wings as in merriami but pterostigma rather small, about as broad as from inner margin prestigma to wing margin. Tarsal claw with tooth nearly as large as claw; middle and anterior hind tibial spurs distinctly hooked at apex; hind tibia as in merriami but slightly narrower.
Metasomal terga as in merriami but pygidial plate without upturned margins. Sterna as in merriami.
VESTITURE. — As in merriami except as follows: light hairs extending to head between antennae, lower part of gena, entire thorax, bases of front and hind legs, tergum 1 and 2; tibial scopal hairs longer, finer, more abundant, scopa much reduced on anterior apex of tibia.
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