Check Out the Newly Discovered Bee Species Found in Texas and Oklahoma

When it comes to bees, most people think of the honeybee or maybe a bumblebee, but bees are an incredibly diverse group of insects. With over 20,000 species described around the world, that number has now increased by one with the discovery of a new species of Nearctic mining bee. 

While new species of insects, even bees, are described somewhat frequently, what makes Andrena androfovea different is that it didn’t neatly fit into the other 104 subgenera of mining bees (genus Andrena). This means it wasn’t closely related to the other species and, therefore, a more significant discovery. 

By sequencing the genome of over 200 samples of Andrena androfovea and comparing it to the genomes of hundreds of other bee species, the authors were able to estimate how much time had passed since the lineage started to separate from the others. They believe this blue mining bee started forming its own family tree branch approximately 12.6 million years ago. 

This bee species was first recorded as far back as 1987, and the authors of the study had been independently collecting and observing the species for years in Texas and Oklahoma. But it wasn’t until they had discussions with each other that they realized they were referring to the same species, and also that they had discovered something unique. 

Mining bees are one of the most specious groups of any animal, let alone bees, representing approximately 8% of the world’s bee diversity with about 1,700 already described species. Many studies on mining bees have focused on pollen collection due to the vast diversity within this genus. Some species collect pollen from a single plant, while others have a wide range of host plants.

Field observations on this new species of mining bee indicate that it might have a specialized preference for plants within two genera of the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. This would be the first documented case of an Andrena species having such a host plant association with members of this family and reaffirms the uniqueness of this lineage.

Another unusual feature of Andrena androfovea is its foraging behavior. When this mining bee collects nectar from flowers, it engages in a handstand-like posture, allowing the flower’s pollen to rub off on its hind legs and stomach.  

Most mining bees are black and yellow, while Andrena androfovea is a metallic dark blue to blue-green with light yellow hairs, making it appear iridescent and even sparkly at times. 

Mining bees are typically solitary bees, but they often live in close proximity to one another, giving the appearance that they are a colony. Most species construct their nests underground by digging tunnels in bare patches of sandy soil, where they get their name, and they lay their eggs and raise their larvae. 

Some species do nest communally with multiple females, but are not considered social as they independently forage, lay eggs, and tend to their young. 

This Nearctic bee likely has a range that includes northeastern Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, and may extend as far north as Kansas, where its host plants also grow, but it has not yet been recorded there. Although this species was first observed decades ago, there is still much to discover.