Andrena commoda

Justification:
Andrena commoda is a widespread bee species that occurs across much of the United States and in southern Canada. Using all observations, the extent of occurrence is 6,635,438 km2. Observations since 2013 are well distributed throughout its range. The species is a dietary generalist, and occurs in several habitat types, including human-altered landscapes. Across the range of the species, impacts from climate change, urbanization and exposure to pesticides have been observed. These threats may be impacting the species at local levels. More information is needed to determine a population trend for the species and the extent to which threats are acting on the species. However, because the species is widespread, occurs in several habitat types, and is reported to be increasing in at least one part of its range, it is unlikely that it is threatened with extinction at this time. As such, it is assessed as Least Concern.

This species is a dietary generalist, foraging from a wide variety of plants including from the families Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, Rosacea, Malvaceae, and Rhamnaceae, among others (Bouseman and LaBerge 1978). An examination of pollen provisions from this species showed that 20% had pollen only from the plant family Asteraceae, while the remaining 80% contained a mix of pollen (Wood and Roberts 2018). It has been recorded in deciduous forest, grasslands, and urban and agricultural 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 April through August, with most records from May and June (Chesshire et al. 2023). Adults are assumed to emerge annually (Danforth et al. 2019).

Specific threats to this species have not been identified, However, certain aspects of this species' biology may make it more vulnerable to some threats. Andrena commoda 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). 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 United States Forest Service, United States Fish and Wildlife, 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.