This subgenus is closely related to the subgenus Larandrena. Both species are early vernal oligoleges of willow. Members of this subgenus have two, not three, submarginal cells, the female labrum is transversely sulcate, and the male sixth sternum is reflexed with apicolateral teeth.
For more information, see W. E. LaBerge and D. W. Ribble, 1972, A revision of the bees of the genus Andrena of the Western Hemisphere. Part V. Gonandrena, Geissandrena, Parandrena, Pelicandrena. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 98: 271-358.
Clypeus more sparsely punctate; propodeal triangle subrugose..A. nida
Clypeus more closely punctate, with at most a narrow submedian impunctate line; propodeal triangle smooth...A. andrenoides andrenoides
Face with large yellow maculae between clypeus and eye, reaching slightly above upper margin of clypeus; mandibles with a small, basal, yellow maculation; propodeal triangle smooth..A. andrenoides andrenoides
Lateral facial maculae small; not extending above margin of clypeus; mandibles not maculated; propodeal triangle subrugose...A. nida.
County Records: Found in Lowndes Co, GA; LaBerge lists it from Jefferson and Miami-Dade (?) counties
Locations: Lamont, Miami?
Dates: LaBerge lists from March 18-July 3 across entire range; chiefly in April and May
Plant: Oligolege of Willows
Notes: This species includes the two subspecies (andrenoides and clarigastra) listed by Mitchell. The record from Miami is suspect. This may be a mislabeling. No other Andrenid bee occurs this far south in Florida. No Andrena species were collected by Pascarella et al. (2000) during an intensive survey of Everglades National Park in 1996-1997, including extensive sampling on willows. Pearson, who sent the specimen to LaBerge, worked at the University of Miami and this is likely the source of the error in the literature.
This is a widely distributed species that usually has a red terga in the female (however all of the specimens from the southeast including Florida have a completely black terga!), the reflexed sixth sternum of the male is not bent forward laterally, and the large male parocular yellow maculae has sinuous posterior border, a high vertex, and a shiny propodeum.
County Records: Gadsden, Also found in Thomas Co, GA.
Locations:
Dates: March 11; LaBerge lists March 10-May 4
Plant: Prunus angustifolia; probably oligolege of willow, collected on other plants, mostly Rosaceae and Viola.
Notes: New state record for Florida. Previously collected in Georgia. Closely related to A. andrenoides. LaBerge and Ribble (1972) state it was collected in a sandy area. This is a smaller Eastern species closely related to A. andrenoides. Both sexes differ from A. andrenoides in the shorter vertex, the more coarsely sculptured dorsal enclosure of the propodeum and the duller integument of the scutum and tergum. The male lacks the basal mandibular yellow macula present in A. andrenoides and has the first flagellar segment shorter in relation to the second segment.
