Andrena ablegata

Justification:
Andrena ablegata is a bee species that is known from approximately 160 observations, and occurs in forests and shrublands of the western United States. Using all records of the species, the extent of occurrence (EOO) is 850,331 km2. The species has not been observed since 2013, although there were many collections of the species in 2011 and 2013 from across the EOO of the species. Based on limited data, this species appears to be a dietary generalist, using pollen from several plant families. Across the range of the species, impacts from climate change and drought, urbanization, and pesticide exposure have been identified and may be acting on the species at local levels. However, because the species is widespread and occurs in several habitat types, it is unlikely that it is threatened with extinction at this time. As such, it is assessed as Least Concern for now.

Andrena ablegata has been recorded in evergreen forests, shrublands, and agricultural areas of the mountains and valleys of the western cordillera and cold deserts in the Western United States. The dietary breadth of this species is not well understood. The species has been recorded in association with several plant families including Apiaceae, Asteraceae, and Salicaceae. 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 (J. H. Cane 1981) that serves to both isolate the provision from pathogens in the surrounding soil and to regulate water uptake from the soil atmosphere (James H. 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 to July (Chesshire et al. 2023). Adults are assumed to emerge annually (Danforth et al. 2019). * 1. Forest * 1.4. Forest – Temperate * 3. Shrubland * 3.4. Shrubland –Temperate * 14 Artificial - Terrestrial * 14.1 Arable Land

Certain aspects of this species' biology may make it more vulnerable to some threats. Andrena ablegata 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 U.S. Forest Service land 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.