Andrena (Notandrena) microthorax Pérez, 1895

Figs 14–15

Andrena (Notandrena) microthorax Pérez, 1895: 38, ♀ (Algeria: MNHN).

Andrena (Notandrena) nigrocyanea Saunders, 1908: 203, ♀ ♂ (Algeria: NHMUK). syn. nov.

Material examined

ALGERIA • ♀, lectotype of A. microthorax (Fig. 14A–D); Biskra; MNHN • 1 ♂, syntype of A. nigrocyanea (Fig. 15A–D); Biskra; 8 Feb. 1894; A.E. Eaton leg.; NHMUK .

MOROCCO • 1 ♀; Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Haouafat; 20 m a.s.l.; 12 Apr. 2021; Y. Bencharki leg.; IRCR • 1 ♀; Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Ouled Ben Hammadi; 54 m a.s.l.; 12 Apr. 2021; Y. Bencharki leg.; IRCR .

TUNISIA • 1 ♂; La Marsa [Tunis]; 1–30 Apr. 1930; R. Meyer leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Thelepte; 14 Apr. 1998; K. Deneš leg.; OÖLM .

Remarks

Warncke (1967) commented that he had a male specimen from La Marsa in Tunisia which matched Saunders’ type, but that he was not sufficiently confident that this species was synonymous with A. microthorax . Confusingly, he then only listed A. microthorax but not A. nigrocyanea in his North Africa revision (Warncke 1974). Gusenleitner & Schwarz (2002) maintained this position, citing a lack of material. Examination of type material supports their conspecificity (Figs 14A–D, 15A–D). Andrena microthorax is unusual among the small former species of Carandrena in having the body almost entirely dark and without clear metallic green reflections, a trait it shares with A. nigrocyanea . Both species were described from Biskra, further supporting their conspecificity; the latter taxon is therefore formally synonymised here.

Distribution

Spain, Morocco *, Algeria, Tunisia (Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002).