Protandrena Scutellata
''Protandrena'' is a genus of mining bees in the family Andrenidae. Depending upon whose definition of the genus one follows, there are anywhere from 50 to 180 described species in ''Protandrena''; traditional classifications recognize 7 subgenera, some of which are sometimes elevated to genus rank, and other classifications place many of these species in the related genus ''Pseudopanurgus'' (e.g.), leaving ''Protandrena'' with a much smaller constituency. In the most inclusive definition, they are found from Canada through Argentina. However, there is current disagreement whether the ''Protandrena'' in South America belong to different genera, in which case the genus extends only as far south as Panama. They are solitary bees, but some species nest in aggregates. They prefer to nest in sunny areas with sparse vegetation. The underground nests have cells lined with a chemical substance. This "wallpaper" acts as a barrier between fungi and bacteria. The eggs hatch, the larvae deve ...
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