Andrena vulpicolor

Justification:
Andrena vulpicolor is a dietary specialist solitary bee that occurs in western United States and Northern Mexico. The species visits plants from the family Asteraceae, mostly the genus Chrysothamnus for pollen. Using all records, the extent of occurrence for the species is 2,873,256 km2. The limited recent records come from New Mexico and Nebraska. Across the range of the species, impacts from climate change, drought, exposure to pesticides, and habitat conversion have been observed, and may be acting on the species at local levels. More information is needed to assess the impact of these threats, and to determine a population trend for the species. Because the species is widespread, occurs in several habitat types, and is a dietary specialist of the genus that is widespread and locally abundant, it is unlikely that it is threatened with extinction at this time. As such it is assessed as Least Concern for now.

Andrena vulpicolor is a dietary specialist that visits plants from the family Asteraceae, mostly the genus Chrysothamnus, for pollen. Records of the species come from grasslands, shrublands, forests, agricultural areas, urban areas, in arid and semi-arid mountainous regions (LaBerge, 1967). 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 & 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 July through October, but chiefly September and October (Chesshire et al., 2023; LaBerge, 1967). Adults are assumed to emerge annually (Danforth et al., 2019).

Since 2000, the Southwest US has seen the worst drought in 1200 years (A. P. Williams et al., 2022). Drought can reduce the abundance of flowering plants on a landscape scale, and also reduce pollen and nectar quality (Wilson Rankin et al., 2020). Drought conditions have been shown to reduce the diversity and abundance of native bees (Hung et al., 2021; Minckley et al., 2013). Certain aspects of this species' biology may make it more vulnerable to some threats. Andrena vulpicolor 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 (N. M. 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 & Paxton, 2009; Grab et al., 2019; Potts et al., 2010; Raven & Wagner, 2021; Wojcik et al., 2018).

Conservation needs No known conservation actions are in place for this species. Observations of this species are known from Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 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 better understand 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.