Andrena (Tarsandrena) sarydzhasi Osytshnjuk, 2005

Wood, Thomas James, 2023, New Old World Andrena species, with a focus on Turkey (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), Zootaxa 5266 (1), pp. 1-72 : 63

Andrena (Tarsandrena) sarydzhasi Osytshnjuk, 2005

Description: Male: Body length: 10 mm ( Figure 37A ). Head: Dark, 1.5 times wider than long ( Figure 37B ). Clypeus yellowish-white, with two small black marks laterally. Clypeus very weakly domed, densely but shallowly punctate, punctures separated by 0.5 puncture diameters, underlying surface shagreened, weakly shining. Process of labrum truncate, rectangular, slightly wider than long, fore margin thickened and weakly upturned. Gena exceeding width of compound eye, produced into a square point ( Figure 37C ); ocelloccipital distance equalling 1.5 times diameter of lateral ocellus. Face medially, scape, vertex dorsally, and gena ventrally with long white hairs, some exceeding length of scape; inner margin of compound eyes and gena posteriorly with contrasting equally long black hairs. Antennae dark, A3 exceeding A4+5, shorter than A4+5+6; A4 short, square, shorter than A5, A5–13 all longer than broad. Mesosoma: Scutum and scutellum irregularly punctate, punctures separated by 1–3 puncture diameters, underlying surface smooth and shining. Pronotum with strong humeral angle. Mesepisternum shagreened, with dense but shallow punctures, punctures separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameters. Dorsolateral parts of propodeum with dense network of raised rugosity, dull; propodeal triangle laterally delineated by obscure carinae, internal surface weakly depressed with network of sparser carinae with shining interspaces, thus contrasting dull dorsolateral parts of propodeum ( Figure 37D ). Mesepisternum with long white hairs, clearly exceeding length of scape, scutum and scutellum with white hairs, becoming intermixed with black hairs medially, propodeum with intermixed black and white hairs, generally black dorsally, white ventrally ( Figure 37E ). Legs dark, apical tarsal segments lightened orange, pubescence whitish basally to brown apically. Hind tarsal claws with strong inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma and venation orange, nervulus weakly antefurcal. Metasoma: Terga dark, marginal areas subtly lightened dark brown; tergal discs densely punctate, punctures separated by 1 puncture diameter, marginal areas less densely punctate, punctures separated by 2–3 puncture diameters; underlying surface smooth and shining. T2–4 with weak apical whitish hair fringes, not obscuring underlying surface. Genital capsule compact, gonocoxae apically produced into rounded teeth, gonostyli with blades strongly broadened and flattened, penis valves with broad, rounded, hyaline lateral extensions ( Figure 37E ).

Diagnosis: Male A. sarydzhasi can be quickly recognised as a Tarsandrena due to the short and broad head ( Figure 37B ), white-marked clypeus, broadened gena, strong humeral angle, finely rugose propodeal triangle that is slightly depressed below the level of the dorsolateral parts of the propodeum ( Figure 37D ), and compact genital capsule with strongly produced gonocoxal teeth ( Figure 37F ).

In Central Asia, due to its large size (for a Tarsandrena ), it is comparable only to A. ehnbergi (see also Diagnosis for A. palliata spec. nov. above). Separation can be made with reference to the sparser scutal punctures, punctures separated by 1–3 puncture diameters with frequent areas of puncture-free integument (in A. ehnbergi with dense and regular punctures; specimens with punctures separated by more than one puncture diameter are rare), and also by a comparison of the propodeal triangle which is broad basally and strongly narrowed apically and which is slightly depressed over its area relative to the dorsolateral parts of the propodeum (in A. ehnbergi with the propodeal not so strongly narrowed apically, and not depressed relative to the dorsolateral parts of the propodeum). The gena is also more strongly expanded and forming a right angled rounded corner ventrally ( Figure 37C ; gena expanded but more or less evenly rounded in A. ehnbergi ), but given the low number of examined A. sarydzhasi specimens it is unclear whether or not this is a consistent character.

Distribution: Uzbekistan * and Kyrgyzstan (Gŗnwaldt et al. 2005, Table 3).

Material examined: KYRGYZSTAN: Sary-Dzhaz , Kaindy ravine, prope Tash-Koroo, 2700 m, 17.vii.1993, 2♁, 1♀, leg. D. Milko, OÖLM ; UZBEKISTAN: Perewal Kamschik [Pereval Kamchik, mountain pass], 6.vii.1987, 1♀, leg. P. Salk, OÖLM .

Figures

FIGURE 37. Andrena (Tarsandrena) sarydzhasi Osytshnjuk, 2005 male. A. Habitus, lateral view, B. Face, frontal view, C. Head, lateral view, D. Propodeum, dorsal view, E. Dorsum, F. Genital capsule, dorsal view.