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Andrena biscutellata Viereck, 1917
Andrena (Ptilandrena) biscutellata Viereck, 1917

Life   Insecta   Hymenoptera   Apoidea   Andrenidae   Andrena
Subgenus: Callandrena_sensu_lato




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Overview
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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A. biscutellata is a large distinctive bee not closely related to any of the foregoing species but, perhaps, nearest to A. gardineri which it resembles in the male sex. The female of biscutellata is readily recognized by the mesoscutum being provided with short, dense, erect, barbed, scale-like hairs and the scutellum being bare and polished. The contrast between the mesoscutum and scutellum is striking and doubtlessly prompted Viereck to name the species biscutellata. The male is similar to that of gardineri in having the sixth sternum reflexed apically and the first tergum with a weak apical fascia (absent in female). But the male of biscutellata can be distinguished from that of gardineri by the larger size, the larger parocular maculae, the higher vertex, the longer third flagellar segment, and the smoother dorsal enclosure of the propodeum.

FEMALE. MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. N=7; length, 12-14 mm; width, 4-5 mm; wing length, M= 4.80 0.216 mm; FL/FW, M = 1.01 0.006; FOVL/FOVW, M = 2.32 0.059.

INTEGUMENTAL COLOR. Black except as follows: mandible, apex of clypeus and labral process rufescent; occasionally with small parocular yellow spot just above mandibular base; flagellar segments 3-10 rufescent below; tegulae translucent, brownish-red; wing membranes moderately infumate, veins dark reddish-brown; terga 1-5 with apices narrowly hyaline, colorless, slightly rufescent just basad of hyaline areas; sterna 2-5 with apices narrowly hyaline, yellowish, basal areas dark rufescent; distitarsi rufescent; tibial spurs yellow.

STRUCTURE. Antennae short; scape length equal to first three and one-half flagellar segments or slightly more; flagellar segment 1 as long as two and one-half succeeding segments; segments 2 and 3 subequal and each shorter than 4; segments 2-7 shorter than broad or quadrate, 8-10 longer than broad. Eye about four and one-fourth times as long as broad, inner margins parallel or diverging slightly toward mandibles. Malar space linear. Mandibles as in gardineri but basoventral lamella poorly developed. Galea as in gardineri but surface with relatively abundant short erect hairs. Maxillary palpus as in gardineri but segmental ratio about 1.0:1.0:0.7:0.6:0.5:0.7. Labial palpus as in gardineri but segmental ratio about 2.0:1.0:0.6:0.9. Labral process bidentate. Clypeus evenly rounded from side to side, protruding beyond ends of compound eyes by less than half median length; punctures small, round, sparse along narrow midline, laterally separated mostly by half a puncture width, surface slightly dulled by extremely fine reticular

shagreening. Supraclypeal area with minute crowded shallow punctures and fine reticular shagreening dulling surface, Genal area as in gardineri. Vertex high, above lateral ocellus equal to one and one-half ocellar diameters or slightly more; punctures small, round, crowded above ocelli, sparse laterally except crowded in narrow band above facial foveae, surface moderately dulled by coarse reticular shagreening. Face above antennal fossae without distinct rugulae, with crowded coarse punctures and fine irregular shagreening dulling surface. Facial fovea long and broad, shallow and rounded low, lower end about reaches level of lower margins antennal fossae, upper cud separated from lateral ocellus by two-thirds or more of one ocellar diameter.

Pronotum normal, with minute punctures dorsally separated by one puncture width or less, laterally sparse, surface moderately lulled by fine reticular shagreening. Mesoscutum with minute round punctures separated by one-half to one puncture width, surface dulled by fine tessellation except posteromedially; parapsidal line slightly shorter than from its posterior end to margin of scutum. Tegulae normal, impunctate. Scutellum with minute round punctures separated mostly by one puncture width or more except medially and peripherally, surface shiny. Metanotum similar to scutellum but punctures smaller, crowded except at summit and dulled by fine shagreening except at summit. Propodeum with dorsal enclosure slightly wrinkled in basomedial triangular area, finely tessellate; dorsolateral and posterior areas with small round punctures separated by one to two puncture widths or more and fine reticular shagreening slightly dulling surface; corbicular area with punctures sparse, scattered throughout, surface shiny, with coarse shagreening. Mesepisternum with small round punctures separated by one to two puncture widths, surface moderately dulled by fine reticular shagreening. Metepisternum similar to corbicular area below, upper third with minute punctures and fine shagreening. Middle basitarsus expanded medially or just below, distinctly broader than hind basitarsus. Wing venation as in gardineri but second submarginal cell slightly longer than half of first cell along posterior margin. Claws and tibial spurs normal.

Metasomal tergum 1 with scarcely discernible, minute punctures sparse except near apex laterally, surface shiny to moderately so, at most with delicate reticular shagreening. Terga 2-4 with small round punctures separated by two puncture widths or slightly more, surface moderately shiny with fine reticular shagreening. (

VESTITURE. Generally pale ochraceous, somewhat brighter ochraceous on vertex, mesoscutum, terga 5 and 6 and inner surfaces tarsi golden-yellow. Mesoscutum with short, erect, profusely barbed, scale-like hairs completely hiding surface; scutellum, metanotum and dorsum of propodeum bare. Tergum 1 glabrous except at extreme sides and apically; terga 2-4 with pale ochraceous to white apical fasciae (often weak medially on tergum 2). Propodeal corbiculum incomplete anteriorly, internally with long, mostly simple hairs scattered throughout. Trochanteral flocculus complete. Tibial scopal hairs plumose throughout.

MALE. MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. N=9; length, 11-13 mm; width, 3.0-3.5 mm; win, length, M = 4.22 0.143 mm; FL/FW, M = 1.11 0.003; FS1/FS2, M = 2.25 0.044.

INTEGUMENTAL COLOR. Black except as follows: mandible dark rufescent; clypeus pale yellow except rufescent apical margin a dark maculae below tentorial pits; parocular area pale yellow level of lower margin of antennal Fossa; flagellar segments 3-1 red below; tegulae translucent, red; wing membranes somewhat infumate apically, veins reddish-brown; terga 1-5 narrowly hyaline, colorless apically; sterna 2-5 hyaline apically, yellowish, basally rufescent; distitarsi rufescent; tibial spurs pale yellow.

STRUCTURE. Antennae moderately long, just reaching posterior margins of tegulae in repose; scape length equals first two and one-half flagellar segments or slightly longer; flagellar segment 1 equal to or slightly longer than segments 2 plus 3; segment 3 distinctly longer than 2 and slightly shorter than 4; segments 4-11 longer than broad. Eye about 3 times as long as broad, inner margins subparallel, curving inwards slightly. Malar space, mandible and galea as in female. Maxillary palpus as in female but segmental ratio about 1.0:1.0:0.7:0.7:0.5:0.7. Labial palpus as in female but segmental ratio about 1.6:1.0:0.6:0.7. Labral process bidentate. Clypeus as in female but punctures slightly coarser, median impunctate line absent, surface usually shinier. Supraclypeal area, genal area, vertex and face above antennal fossae as in female.

b, Pronotum as in female but punctures more distinct laterally. Mesoscutum as in female but punctures larger and parapsidal line slightly longer than from its posterior end to margin of scutum. Tegulae impunctate. Scutellum and metanotum as in female. Propodeum as in female except dorsal enclosure with basomedian triangular area more distinctly wrinkled, lateral areas with more abundant punctures and moderately dulled by fine reticular shagreening. Mesepisternum, metepisternum and wing venation as in female.

Tergal sculpturing as in female except as follows: tergum 1 with minute punctures more abundant in apical area; terga 2-4 with basal area punctures separated by two puncture widths or

more at least medially. Pseudopygidial area nonexistent. Sterna 2-5 sculptured as in female. Sternum 6 with apical margin strongly reflexed.

Genitalia and sterna 7 and 8 (Figs. 297-301) similar to those of balsamorhizae but note the following: penis valves not bent down but parallel to gonoforceps in lateral view, narrow apically; gonoforceps enlarged by inward development of the inner-dorsal ridge; sternum 7 extremely shallowly emarginate and sparsely haired; sternum 8 with neck region broad, densely hairy, apex broadened, entire.

VESTITURE. Generally pale ochraceous or white, slightly more yellowish on dorsum of thorax. Tergum 1 with long erect hairs basally, apically with fascia of short, white, decumbent hairs but either thin medially and occasionally interrupted (perhaps eroded).

Terga 2-5 with complete apical white fasciae. Sterna 2-5 with complete, subapical fimbriae of moderately long, erect hairs. Inner surfaces tarsi pale yellow.

TYPE MATERIAL. The holotype (PANS) female of biscutellata was collected at Fedor, Texas, April 5, 1902, by the Reverend G. Birkmann.

DISTRIBUTION. Since A. biscutellata is known from only 16 specimens in addition to the holotype, the data for these is given below in full.

COLORADO: Regnier. 1 male, June 6-9, 1919, F. Lutz. KANSAS: Lawrence. 1 female, October 5, 1959. Meade. 1 female, June 16, 1949, on Gaillardia sp., C. D. Michener and R. H. Beamer. NEW MEXICO: Tucumcari. 1 female, June 8, 1950, R. H. Learner. TEXAS: Bakersfield. 1 9, May 3, 1954, R. H. Beamer. Dalhart. 1 female, 7 males, June 8, 1950, . G. Rozen, R. H. and L. D. Beamer; 1 female, June 26, 1915, on Monarda sp., F. C. Bishopp. Midland. 1 male, April 11, 1951. R. H. and L. D. Beamer. "Tex." 1 female.

Names
Scientific source:
References
Andrena (Ptilandrena) biscutellata Viereck, 1917, Trans. American Ent. Soc., vol. 43, p. 393.

Andrena (Pterandrena) biscutellata: Lanham, 1949, Univ. California Publ. Ent, vol. 8, p. 200.

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