Integrated taxonomic revision of the mining bee subgenus Andrena (Micrandrena) (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) in the Levant and Cyprus

Andrena (Micrandrena) Ashmead is the largest subgenus of Andrena Fabricius 1775, with more than 150 species distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. The subgenus has gained notoriety as one of the most difficult taxonomic groups of bees, and remains poorly studied across large parts of the Palaearctic region. Based on extensive collecting in Israel, Lebanon and Cyprus, together with efficient DNA barcoding and and re-examination of old museum material, we present a thorough revision of the species of A. (Micrandrena) occuring in the region of the Levant (Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria) and the island of Cyprus, including a detailed identification key, and a summary of our knowledge of the distribution, phenology and foraging biology of each taxon.

Our study enumerates forty-two species of Andrena (Micrandrena) from the Levant and Cyprus, including four species new to the region, and nine species new to science: Andrena aphroditae Pisanty sp. nov., A. alshaykh Pisanty sp. nov., A. aspera Pisanty & Wood sp. nov., A. chananaea Pisanty & Wood sp. nov., A. friedmani Pisanty sp. nov., A. hebraica Pisanty & Wood sp. nov., A. kugleri Pisanty sp. nov., A. libanica Wood sp. nov., and A. phoenicia Pisanty sp. nov.

We describe the males of A. calandra Warncke, 1975 and A. lindbergella Pittioni, 1950 for the first time. We additionally synonymise Andrena dargia Warncke, 1965 with A. minutula (Kirby, 1802) syn. nov., and recognise two previously subspecific names as valid species: Andrena leptura Warncke, 1974 stat. nov. and A. povolnyi, 1974 Warncke stat. nov.