Redescription of Andrena savignyi SPINOLA, 1838 (Hymenoptera, Anthophila, Andrenidae)

The types of Andrena savignyi described by SPINOLA (1838) are deposited in the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali (MRSN) in Turin (Italy) (Fulvio Giachino, MRSN, per litt. 2021). Spinola reported that he acquired three Egyptian females from the insect tradesman Dr M. Waltl (Passau, Germany) (SPINOLA 1838) (Fulvio Giachino, MRSN, per litt. 2021). The type specimens were collected by the entomologist and traveller M. Fischer in Egypt. A review by WOOD (2023) revealed that only one specimen could be assigned to A. savignyi. WOOD (2023) designated the lectotype in 2022, but without analysing the lectotype or the species in more detail. This study will add historical aspects of the Spinola collection. The distribution area of A. savignyi extends from the Canary Islands to the eastern border of India, which encompasses about 10,000 km. As the taxonomic rank of the populations outside of the lectotype (Egypt) has not yet been clarified, only the populations from Egypt will be examined morphologically and morphometrically in this study. The basis for this analysis was 25♀♀ and 12♂♂ collected between 1900 and 1999. An important aspect of this study was the clarification of the variation of individual characteristics. The results show that an extraordinarily large variation of individual characteristics can be found within Egypt in different populations, but also within one population. This applies, for example, to the extent of the reddish colouration of the tergites, different structures of the propodeum or pubescence colour. A detailed description of the male Egyptian specimens will be presented for the first time. The analysis of the genitalia of A. savignyi and a comparison with those of A. inaquosa WOOD, 2021 show that this species can be regarded as synonymous with A. savignyi. A morphological and morphometric analysis of A. savignyi in populations from the Canary Islands, Tunisia, Egypt and northern India and a comparison with the results obtained here will be published later (KRATOCHWIL, in prep.).