Andrena (Hoplandrena) mordax MORAWITZ 1876

Andrena (Hoplandrena) mordax MORAWITZ, 1876 (Figs 18-19; 22-27) M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Afghanistan: GrosserPamir, Issiktal [Isikmountain, Isik, Wakhan Corridor], 3500 m, 18-25.viii.1975, 9♀, leg. H. Huss, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz; India: Ladakh, Leh Tehsil, Rumbak, 3850 m, 1.ix.2015, 1♁, 2♀, leg. M. Jacobs, coll. Maarten Jacobs. R e m a r k s: Andrena mordax is an uncommon but typical species of Central Asia. The type material (a male) was illustrated by ASTAFUROVA et al. (2022), and differs slightly from the male pictured here (Figs 23; 25; 25), specifically due to the genital capsule which has the penis valves comparatively slightly wider basally, whereas they are slightly more narrow in the Indian specimen (Fig. 27). Otherwise, the specimens conform well to the concept of A. mordax in both sexes (Figs 22-27; OSYTSHNJUK et al. 2008). Specimens were observed foraging on Mentha (Lamiaceae) at the Rumbak site (Figs 18-19). In addition to reporting A. mordax as new for India, the species is reported from Afghanistan for the first time from the Wakhan Corridor (Isik mountain, not to be confused with lake Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan), linking populations in Central Asia proper with those in Ladakh. D i s t r i b u t i o n: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Afghanistan *, India * (Ladakh) (OSYTSHNJUK et al. 2008; ASTAFUROVA et al. 2022).