~ 1418 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(2): 1418-1421 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2017; 5(2): 1418-1421 © 2017 JEZS Received: 04-01-2017 Accepted: 05-02-2017 Lokesh Kumar Meena Department of Crop Protection, Indian Institute of Soybean Research, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India Debjani Dey Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, India Correspondence Lokesh Kumar Meena Department of Crop Protection, Indian Institute of Soybean Research, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India A taxonomic revision of subgenus Andrena ( Chlorandrena ) (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae: Andrena ) of India Lokesh Kumar Meena and Debjani Dey Abstract In India Andrena (Chlorandrena) subgenus is represented by only one species, Andrena (Chlorandrena) taraxaci Giraud, 1861. The present investigation was aimed to redescribe this species with new taxonomic technologies and methods, provide diagnostic characters for this subgenus and to establish species key. In the present investigation Andrena taraxaci was redescribe from India for the first time along with photographs with advance microscopic technologies i.e., LEICA DFC 425C stereo-zoom microscope using LAS3.8 software. Identification keys of male and female were also provided for easy and fast identification. Moreover, diagnostic characters for this subgenus were established for Indian species. This kind of investigation helps in further improvement of taxonomic science especially Indian perspective. Keywords: Andrena, Chlorandrena, India Introduction Order Hymenoptera, comprises with more than 1, 15,000 described species and worldwide 17,000 species of bees under Superfamily, Apoidea have been described [7] . The family Andrenidae is currently represented by 4 subfamilies and 5 genus worldwide. To date Andrena genus contains about 1443 valid species worldwide [4] . The researchers recently studied genus Andrena as well its subgenus nicely [1, 11, 3, 14, 15, 12, 16, 13, 10] . In India only one genus Andrena is reported yet which is comprises 23 subgenus and 51 species. The only comprehensive work on Indian bees was that of Bingham (1897) [2] who included all the different types, viz., social/ non-social bees under a single family Apidae and used characters like shape of the tongue and nature of pubescence on the body and integument colour for their segregation. But, now a day’s Andrenidae is a clearly distinct family of non apis bees and Andrena is a genus of this family. Also, a number of new characters have been included in taxonomy of Andrena. As a results of this 96 subgenus have been formed till date and in India 23 subgenus are present. The taxonomic revision of this subgenera in the Indian context was totally lacking. So, the aim of present study was to revise the subgenus with new technologies, methods and amalgamation of new characters with old characters more comprehensively. So, we formulated the topic entitled “A taxonomic revision of subgenus Andrena (Chlorandrena) (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae: Andrena) of India. This kind of research will helpful in conserving the biodiversity of natural insect fauna especially wild bees like Andrenidae. Because, Andrena bees are potent pollinators of crops especially mustard, apple and other temperate crops where honey bees fails to pollinate due less cold hardiness. The present investigation was aimed to redescribe this species with new taxonomic technologies and methods, provide diagnostic characters for this subgenus and to establish species key. 2. Materials and Methods This study was undertaken at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during the period of 3 rd August, 2012 to 20 th June, 2015. 2.1 Materials The base materials for the present study was based on specimens which were obtained from following different sources-