Andrena (Ulandrena) bulbosa Wood, 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 : 46-49

Andrena (Ulandrena) bulbosa Wood sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:86FAABC5-56AB-4758-AC10-8E045BD9AC28

Figs 109–120

Diagnosis

Andrena bulbosa sp. nov. can swiftly be placed in the subgenus Ulandrena Warncke, 1968 by the combination of the inner hind tibial spur that is broadened slightly before its base, the yellow-marked male clypeus ( Fig.116 ), and generally enlarged genital capsule ( Fig. 118 ). It belongs to the Andrena polita species group and is closest to the larger species with red-marked terga, specifically A. caspica Morawitz, 1886 , A. unicincta Friese, 1899 , and A. unifasciata Friese, 1899 . Males can instantly be separated by the unique genitalia, which lack gonocoxal teeth ( Fig. 118 ) (vs strongly produced and pointed in A. caspica and A. unifasciata , weakly produced and laterally diverging in A. unicincta ). Females can be separated from A. unicincta by the shiny scutum ( Fig. 112 ) (vs dull) and interstitial nervulus (vs postfurcal). Separation from A. caspica can be made by the smaller body size of 10 mm (12–13 mm) as well as the comparatively shinier scutum (vs only slightly shiny in A. caspica , comparative material required). It is therefore very similar to A. unifasciata , and based on the limited female material, separation from this taxon in the female sex is not currently possible.

Similar red-marked female material of Ulandrena collected from Uludere in Şırnak Province ( Turkey) by Klaus Warncke (16 Jun. 1981) is morphologically inseparable from Levantine specimens of A. unifasciata and the Iranian specimen of A. bulbosa sp. nov. Males must be found that can resolve the identity of specimens from south-eastern Turkey, which has biogeographical affinities with both the Levant and Iran. Molecular data (G. Pisanty pers. comm.) suggests that there may be cryptic species within this group that require clarification and delineation. Based on morphological knowledge, both A. unicincta and A. caspica range from the Levant to Iran, but male A. unifasciata are currently known only from the Levant. The nomenclatural and distributional situation may therefore change pending revision.

Etymology

From the Latin meaning ‘bulbous’ in reference to the swollen genital capsule that separates this taxon from similar red-marked species of Ulandrena .

Material examined

Holotype IRAN • ♂; Fars, 15 km SE of Sarvestan ; 1800 m a.s.l.; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM.

Paratype IRAN • 1 ♀; Fars, same collection data as for holotype; OÖLM .

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 10 mm ( Fig. 109 ).

HEAD. 1.3 times as wide as long. Clypeus dark, weakly domed, regularly punctate with exception of narrow impunctate longitudinal midline, punctures otherwise separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameter; underlying surface faintly shagreened, shining ( Fig. 110 ). Process of labrum broadly trapezoidal, apical margin with hint of emargination medially, essentially straight ( Fig. 111 ). Face, gena, vertex, and scape with whitish hairs. Gena slightly exceeding width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance subequal to diameter of lateral ocellus. Foveae dorsally occupying ½ distance between compound eye and lateral ocellus, slightly narrowed below at level of antennal insertions; foveae filled with whitish hairs.Antennae dark, A(4)5–12 slightly lightened dark orange below; A3 slightly exceeding A4+5, shorter than A4+5+6.

MESOSOMA. Scutum and scutellum with dense and even punctation, punctures almost contiguous to separated by 0.5 puncture diameter; underlying surface generally smooth and shining, scutum shagreened anteriorly ( Fig. 112 ). Pronotum without humeral angle. Mesepisternum and lateral face of propodeum with fine shagreen, weakly shining, mesepisternum with fine raised pattern of reticulation. Propodeal triangle weakly delineated laterally by fine carinae, internal surface with weak pattern of raised rugae basally, disappearing centrally, here with reticulation, dull. Propodeal triangle therefore weakly contrasting with dorsolateral faces of propodeum, these covered in fine but dense raised reticulation, dull. Mesosoma with whitish hairs, longest on mesepisternum; propodeal corbicula dorsally composed of white plumose hairs. Legs dark, apical tarsal segments lightened orange; pubescence white, tibial and femoral scopae and flocculus unicolourous white. Hind tarsal claws with strong inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma and venation dark orange, nervulus interstitial, first recurrent vein enters second submarginal cell slightly beyond its middle.

METASOMA. Terga dark with extensive red maculations; red maculations form patches on T1 basally and apically, T2–3 almost entirely red-marked, T4 basally and apically; tergal margins lightened yellowhyaline ( Fig. 113 ). Terga T1–4 weakly shagreened, shining; T5 dull; all terga densely and uniformly punctate, punctures separated by 1 puncture diameter ( Fig. 114 ). Tergal discs with very fine, short, and sparse whitish hairs, T2–4 with weak white apical hair fringes that do not obscure underlying surface, widely interrupted. Apical fringe of T5 and hairs flanking pygidial plate white to golden; pygidial plate rounded triangular, without surface sculpture.

Male

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 12 mm ( Fig. 115 ).

HEAD. 1.2 times as wide as long. Clypeus domed, entirely yellow-marked, yellow colouration extending onto lower paraocular areas; clypeus evenly punctate, punctures separated by 1 puncture diameter; underlying surface weakly shining ( Fig. 116 ). Process of labrum rounded rectangular, broadly emarginate medially. Lower face and gena with white hairs, becoming golden-brown on vertex, scape, and frons. Gena exceeding width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance 1½ times diameter of lateral ocellus. Antennae dark, A4–13 slightly lightened dark brown below; A3 slightly exceeding A4+5, shorter than A4+5+6.

MESOSOMA. Mesosoma structurally as in female. Mesepisternum and propodeum with moderately thick long whitish hairs, becoming golden-brown dorsally on scutum and scutellum. Legs dark, apical tarsal segments lightened orange; pubescence whitish to brownish. Hind tarsal claws with inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma and venation orange; nervulus very slightly antefurcal, first recurrent vein enters second submarginal cell clearly beyond its middle.

METASOMA. Terga dark, red maculations cover entirety of T2–3, apical margins of T1 and T4; tergal margins otherwise lightened yellow-hyaline ( Fig. 117 ). Tergal discs weakly shagreened, strongly shining; terga densely and evenly punctate, punctures separated by 1–1.5 puncture diameters. Tergal discs with fine golden pubescence, hairs longest on T1, T2–4 with complete apical hairbands composed of golden hairs, weakest on T2, becoming progressively thicker to T4, here obscuring underlying surface. S8 short, triangular, ventral surface covered by short golden hairs that obscure underlying shape. Genital capsule large, gonocoxae with inner margin evenly rounded, lacking apical teeth ( Fig. 118 ); in lateral view gonocoxae forming rounded 90° angle ( Fig. 119 ). Gonostyli with apical blades flattened, sharply right-angled basally, and produced into ventrally projecting points. Penis valves mediolaterally with short hyaline extensions, apically produced into long narrow projection, very subtly bifurcate apically ( Fig. 120 ).

Distribution

Southern Iran (Fars Province).

Figures

Figs 109–114. Andrena bulbosa Wood sp. nov., ♀ (OÖLM). 109. Profile. 110. Face. 111. Process of labrum, detail. 112. Scutum. 113. Terga. 114. Terga 4–5, detail.

Figs 115–120. Andrena bulbosa Wood sp. nov., ♂ (OÖLM). 115. Profile. 116. Face. 117. Terga. 118. Genitalia dorsal view. 119. Genitalia lateral view. 120. Genitalia ventral view.