25. Andrena (Plastandrena) mongolica Morawitz, 1880 *

Andrena mongolica Morawitz, 1880: 360, ♀ [China, ZISP, examined by photograph].

Material examined

INDIA • 1 ♂; West Himalaya, Khalatse [Khalsi], Kashmir [Ladakh]; 4000–5000 m a.s.l.; 6 May 1939; K. Warncke det.; OÖLM .

Remarks

Members of the subgenus Plastandrena Hedicke, 1933 are fiendishly difficult to identify due to variable morphology without clear and consistent ‘break points’ between species and lack of resolution using genetic barcoding (e.g., Wood 2023b). Further study using more powerful genetic techniques (e.g., including nuclear DNA) is required, but A. mongolica can be reported from India based on a male specimen presenting the characteristic genital capsule of this species.

Distribution

Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, China, India * (Ladakh) (Astafurova et al. 2021).