Andrena (Avandrena) melacana Warncke, 1967

Replacement name for Andrena melaleuca Friese, 1922 nec Andrena melaleuca Pérez, 1895

Material examined.

Morocco: Fès-Meknès, 12 km east of Ifrane, 9.v.1997, 1♀, leg. J. Halada, OÖLM; Fès-Meknès, Laanoucer, 1417 m, 3.v.2018, 1♂, leg. A. Sentil & P. Lhomme, UMONS.

Distribution and remarks.

Previously known from Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya (Gusenleitner and Schwarz 2002). This species is part of the Avandrena group that, like the Pallandrena, appear to be associated with Geraniaceae . Records of A. avara Warncke, 1967 and A. panurgina Desteffani, 1889 in Portugal have been made exclusively from Erodium, and pollen removed from the scopa from A. melacana comprised entirely of Erodium -type pollen (Figs 131, 132). Andrena melacana can be easily distinguished from A. avara and A. panurgina as the hind femora lacks spines (Warncke 1980) and the male genitalia are completely different.