Andrena (incertae sedis) hosseiniiae 2022

Wood, Thomas J. & Monfared, Alireza, 2022, A revision of the Andrena (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) fauna of Iran, with the description of 16 new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 843, pp. 1-136 : 50-52

Andrena (incertae sedis) hosseiniiae sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:334B5201-2518-44BE-9F05-18D14CB63906

Figs 121–126

Diagnosis

Andrena hosseiniiae sp. nov. is similar to the previously described species of Planiandrena , but it cannot currently be placed there with confidence. It appears similar because the clypeus is domed and shining ( Fig. 122 ), the foveae are dorsally narrow (though slightly constricted and separated from the inner margin of the compound eye medially), and there is a faintly raised longitudinal ridge centrally on the pygidial plate. However, it is smaller, the process of the labrum is not as wide and is generally more rounded ( Fig. 123 ), the integument of the frons and paraocular areas have hints of metallic green reflections, the propodeal triangle is constricted medially, extremely narrow, and slightly depressed, therefore slightly ‘T’ shaped ( Fig. 125 ), and the hind tibial spur is straight, not broadened submedially. In the absence of male material, no subgenus is currently assigned. Andrena hosseiniiae can be recognised and separated from any Middle Eastern Andrena by this unusual combination of characters, specifically the domed and shining clypeus along with the unusual, medially constricted ‘T’ shaped propodeal triangle.

Etymology

Named after Tahereh Hosseinii, who led much of the recent work in Iranian bee collection that is presented here.

Material examined

Holotype IRAN • ♀; Yasouj, Doposhteh, Dasht-e Rum ; 30.589° N, 51.517° E; 2091 m a.s.l.; 10 Apr. 2021; E. Rostami leg.; OÖLM.

Paratypes IRAN • 1 ♀; Yasouj, Doposhteh, Dasht-e Rum ; 2091 m a.s.l.; 10 Apr. 2021; E. Rostami leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; TJWC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; ICPI • 1 ♀; Yasouj, Doposhteh, Dasht-e Rum ; 2091 m a.s.l.; 31 Mar. 2021; E. Rostami leg.; ICPI .

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 7–7.5 mm ( Fig. 121 ).

HEAD. 1.1 times as wide as long. Clypeus dark, domed, with few irregular punctures, punctures laterally separated by 1–2 puncture diameters, very sparse centrally and apically, almost impunctate ( Fig. 122 ). Clypeus surface basally and laterally with fine, slightly raised microreticulation, forming latitudinal wrinkles; remainder of surface with very weak shagreen, strongly shining. Process of labrum trapezoidal, twice as broad as long, corners rounded, apical margin very faintly emarginate ( Fig. 123 ). Face, gena, vertex, and scape with sparse whitish hairs, not exceeding length of scape. Integument of frons and paraocular area with slight metallic green reflections. Gena equalling width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance small, just over ½ diameter of lateral ocellus. Foveae dorsally narrow, occupying ⅓ of space between compound eye and lateral ocellus, medially narrowed, here separated from inner margin of compound eye by a distance subequal to its medial diameter; fovea returning to original width and inner margin of compound eye at level of antennal insertions; fovea filled with dark brown hairs. Antennae dark, A3=A4+5+6, A4 sub-square, slightly wider than long.

MESOSOMA. Scutum with fine granular microreticulation, weakly shining, surface with obscure shallow punctures, punctures separated by 1–4 puncture diameters ( Fig. 124 ). Scutellum strongly contrasting, shagreen limited to lateral areas, smooth and shining over majority of area, with scattered obscure punctures. Pronotum with hint of humeral angle, inconspicuous. Mesepisternum and lateral faces of propodeum with fine granular shagreenation, weakly shining. Propodeal triangle slightly depressed, internal area lower than dorsolateral faces of propodeum; basally with subtle longitudinal rugae extending onto internal surface, apically shagreened; triangle apically constricted, thus broadly ‘T’ shaped when viewed dorsally ( Fig. 125 ). Dorsolateral faces of propodeum with coarser granular shagreen, propodeal triangle therefore defined by change in surface sculpture. Mesosoma with long whitish hairs, longest not exceeding length of scape; propodeum dorsally and laterally with some intermixed black hairs, propodeal corbiculae dorsally with weakly plumose white hairs, internal surface with long white simple hairs. Legs uniformly dark, pubescence whitish; tibial and femoral scopae and flocculus white. Hind tarsal claws with inner tooth. Hind tibial spur parallel-sided. Wings hyaline, stigma orange with dark brown margin, venation dark brown, nervulus antefurcal; first recurrent vein enters second submarginal cell at its middle to slightly beyond its middle.

METASOMA. Terga dark, apical margin of T1 very narrowly, of T2–4 slightly more extensively lightened yellow-hyaline ( Fig. 126 ). Terga very weakly shagreened, generally shining; terga essentially impunctate with extremely obscure and scattered fine punctures. Terga discs with scattered short white hairs, T2–4 laterally with weak apical fringes of whitish hairs. Fringe of T5 and hairs flanking pygidial plate dark brown; pygidial plate triangular with faintly raised longitudinal ridge centrally.

Male

Unknown.

Remarks

All specimens were collected from Acer monspessulanum in April.

Distribution

Southern Iran (Yasouj).

Figures

Figs 121–126. Andrena hosseiniiae sp. nov., ♀ (OÖLM). 121. Profile. 122. Face.123. Process of labrum. 124. Dorsum. 125. Propodeal triangle. 126. Terga.