Andrena (Poecilandrena) mediterranea Pisanty & Scheuchl, 2016 stat. nov.

Andrena sphecodimorpha mediterranea Pisanty & Scheuchl, 2016

Distribution: North and central Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank (Pisanty et al. 2018, Wood et al. 2020a).

Flight period: February–May (Pisanty et al. 2018; Wood et al. 2020a).

Flower records: Amaryllidaceae: Allium trifoliatum; Apiaceae: Scandix verna; Asteraceae: Leontodon tuberosus; Brassicaceae: Diplotaxis erucoides, Erysimum spp., Thlaspi spp.; Euphorbiaceae: Euphorbia sp.; Iridaceae: Moraea sisyrinchium; Plantaginaceae: Veronica syriaca; Rosaceae: Pyrus syriaca (Pisanty et al. 2016, 2018; Wood et al. 2020a; new records).

Material examined: HOLOTYPE: ISRAEL: Lakhish, 2 km E, 31.5562°N 34.869°E, 4.iii.2016, G. Pisanty, pan trap (♀) (SMNHTAU:235320); PARATYPES: see Pisanty et al. 2016; new records: ISRAEL: Har’el, 21.ii.2020, T. Roth, on Leontodon tuberosus (1); Hermon Nature Reserve, 1670 m, 33.299°N 35.769°E, 28.iv.2021, A. Dorchin (1♀); Hermon Nature Reserve [Hermon Nat. Res.], 1467 m, 33.292°N 35.7505°E, 29.iv.2022, G. Pisanty, on Euphorbia (1♀); [Hermon], Biq’at Man, 1450 m, 33.292°N 35.751°E, 29.iv.2022, G. Pisanty (2♀); Meron Junction, 20.iii.1995, on Pyrus syriaca (2♀); Mount Gilboa [Hare Gilboa’], Har Avinadav, 32°28’N 35°26’E, 22.iii.2012, L. Friedman (1♀); Mount Hermon [Har Hermon], 1420 m, 33.2855°N 35.763°E, 7.iv.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (7♀, 1♂); 1480 m, 33.292°N 35.760°E, 11.v.2020, G. Pisanty, pan traps (1♀); 33.2922°N 35.7595°E, 7.iv.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♂); 1540 m, 33.296°N 35.763°E, 7.iv.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♀); 1610 m, 33.300°N 35.767°E, 7.iv.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (6♀); 1640 m, 33.300°N 35.7675°E, 7.iv.2021, G. Pisanty, sweeping (2♂); 1642 m, 33.2992°N 35.7668°E, 19.v.2022, G. Pisanty, pan traps (1♀, 1♂); 33.2996°N 35.7677°E, 19.v.2022, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♀); 1644 m, 33.2991°N 35.7667°E, 16.iv.2022, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♀, 3♂); 33.2992°N 35.7670°E, 16.iv.2022, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♂); 1645 m, 33.2994°N 35.7675°E, 16.iv.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (4♂) and sweeping (2♀); [Har Hermon], Nahal Guveta, 1410 m, 33.285°N 35.763°E, 11.v.2020, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♀); [Hermon], 1640–1675 m, 33.298–299°N 35.767–770°E, 19.v.2022, G. Pisanty, on Erysimum (1♀); Odem Forest Nature Reserve [Ya’ar Odem N.R.], 1.iii.2018, G. Pisanty (5♀, 4♂); [Ya’ar Odem NR], 33.186°N 35.7356°E, 27.ii.2020, G. Pisanty, pan traps (5♂); 3.205°N 35.736°E, 27.iv.2020, G. Pisanty, pan traps (4♀); 33.206°N 35.736°E, 27.ii.2020, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♂); WEST BANK: Har ‘ Eval, 750–800 m, 29.iii.2021, L. Friedman (1♂) (SMNHTAU).

Remarks. Molecular data of the nominate A. sphecodimorpha Hedicke and of A. hybrida Warncke is still unavailable to us. However, both sexes of A. mediterranea are well separated from these species by several traits (shagreenation, hair colouration, integumental colouration, see Pisanty et al. 2016). According to our improved understanding of species limits within Andrena and specifically Poecilandrena, such differences are clearly sufficient to demarcate different species.