Andrena arctostaphylae

Justification:
356,091 km2 Andrena arctostaphylae is a pollen specialist solitary bee species that visits plants from the genus Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae) for pollen. It occurs throughout California, with one additional record from southeast Utah. Its presence in Utah and the Intermountain West is uncertain. Using all records of the species, the extent of occurrence is 356,091 km2. There have been no available records of the species from anywhere in its range since 2006, although there may not have been sufficient search effort to detect the species since 2013. The species has been recorded from shrubland, evergreen forest, agricultural areas, and suburban areas. Across the range of the species, impacts from climate change and drought, increased wildfire frequency and severity, and exposure to pesticides have been observed. These threats may be acting on the species at local levels. Although the species is widespread, it has not been observed since 2006, with apparently sufficient search effort to detect it. It is unclear whether it persists throughout its entire range. More information is needed to assess its persistence and population trend, and to describe more elements of its life history. As such it is assessed as Data Deficient for now.

Andrena arctostaphylae is a dietary specialist bee species, foraging within the genus Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae) (Ribble 1968). It has been recorded in shrublands, evergreen forests, agricultural areas, suburban areas This species likely nests underground like all other Andrena (Danforth et al. 2019), but nests from this species have not been described. Nest cells from other members of this genus are located at the ends of the lateral burrows, which are typically lined with a waxy Dufour’s gland secretion (Cane 1981) that serves to both isolate the provision from pathogens in the surrounding soil and to regulate water uptake from the soil atmosphere (Cane and Love 2021). Females provision each cell with a ball of pollen moistened with nectar on which they lay a single egg (Michener 2007). Records of this species come from winter and spring, from November to May (Chesshire et al. 2023). Adults are assumed to emerge annually (Danforth et al. 2019).

Certain aspects of this species' biology may make it more vulnerable to some threats. Andrena arctostaphylae is a ground nesting species, and nests may be harmed by certain agricultural practices such as tilling, which can kill bees nesting close to the surface (Williams et al. 2010). This species is a dietary specialist, which has been linked to higher risk of extinction due to reduced host plant availability, especially under climate change scenarios (Roberts et al. 2011) and reduced effective population sizes (Packer et al. 2005). Additionally, Andrena have been reported to have low reproductive output because of the short adult life span, and a low rate of brood cell provisioning (reviewed in Danforth et al. 2019). Other threats to bees generally include habitat loss or modification, climate change, pesticide use, exposure to pathogens from managed bee species, and competition with honey bees (Brown and Paxton 2009; Potts et al. 2010; Wojcik et al. 2018; Grab et al. 2019; Raven and Wagner 2021).

Conservation needs No known conservation actions are in place for this species. Observations of this species are known from Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Forest Service, and National Park Service land but this does not confer any specific protections to the species. Further research is needed to determine the overall size of the population and to identify trends and existing threats. Specific conservation needs for this species have not been identified. Due to the importance of supporting wild bee populations for pollination services, general conservation practices are recommended including, restoring, creating, and preserving natural high-quality habitats to include suitable forage and nesting sites; limiting pesticide use on or near suitable habitat, particularly during the adult bee’s flight period; promoting farming and urban practices that increase pollinator-friendly plants in margin space; minimizing exposure of wild bees to diseases transferred from managed bees; and lastly, avoiding honey bee introduction to high-quality native bee habitat.

Surveys targeting this species are needed throughout its range to determine its persistence throughout its historic range. More information is needed about the population status, range limits, habitat, and ecology of this species.

(a. any taxonomic concerns about the validity of the species? b. any taxonomic revisions underway that would require a species reassessment.