Two new overlooked bee species from Spain (Hymenoptera: Anthophila: Andrenidae, Apidae)

Abstract

Spain has a large, species-rich bee fauna, but despite a long history of study, new species continue to be discovered at a rapid rate. New collections made during an expedition have revealed the existence of two additional species: Andrena (Taeniandrena) contracta spec. nov. is described from the high-altitude zone of the Sierra Nevada (Granada), and Nomada halophila spec. nov. is described from saline lagoons in Málaga province, where it is a parasite of the recently described Andrena (Notandrena) juliana Wood, 2021. These findings emphasise the need to investigate unusual or understudied habitats in order to fully document the rich Spanish bee fauna.