Andrena (Taeniandrena) wilkella

25. Andrena (Taeniandrena) wilkella (Kirby, 1802) Listed by Nurse (1904): Kashmir; Meena & Dey (2019): Kashmir; Ascher & Pickering (2023). Remarks Nurse (1904) reported that A. convexiuscula (Kirby, 1802) was “common” in Kashmir, A. conveixuscula being a known synonym of A. wilkella (Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002). The subgenus Taeniandrena is taxonomically complex and often defies morphological delineation (Praz et al. 2022), and historical species concepts cannot be used in a modern context. Whilst it is clear that Nurse was referring to a species of Taeniandrena, its identity must remain obscure until genetic sampling of the Indian Taeniandrena fauna is possible, as it is highly likely that true A. wilkella is not present. It is therefore excluded from the Indian fauna.