Khuzimelissa Engel, 2019

Engel, Michael S., Alqarni, Abdulaziz S., Shebl, Mohamed A. & Thomas, Jennifer C., 2019, New genera of meliturguline bees from Saudi Arabia and Persia, with notes on related genera and a key to the Arabian fauna (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 69, pp. 1-21 : 1

Khuzimelissa Engel gen. n.

Type species.

Meliturgula deserta Warncke, 1983 [1985].

Diagnosis.

The genus superficially resembles Flavomeliturgula and Belliturgula , particularly the latter in the extensive yellow coloration. However, the genus differs from both in the short, more typical labial palpomeres in which the proximal labial palpomere is elongate, flattened, longer than the combined lengths of the remaining palpomeres (approximately 1.25 × length of remaining palpomeres combined), with the second palpomere flattened and slightly shorter than the length of the third and fourth palpomeres combined; and the third and fourth palpomeres subequal in length and cylindrical (Fig. 13 ). In addition, the glossa is acute (Figs 6 , 15 ) (rather than broadly truncate apically), the glossa is shorter than the head length (Figs 6 , 19-21 ) (rather than greater than the head length in the former two genera), the pretarsal claws are cleft (simple in the former two genera), the metasomal terga have distinctive broad setal bands (Figs 16-18 ) (lacking in the former two genera), and the pygidial plate is apically emarginate (Fig. 25 ) (acutely rounded in the former two genera). Other diagnostic traits include: small species, slightly more than 8 mm in length; integument largely pale yellow with few dark brown to black markings (Figs 6 , 16-18 ); outer subantennal sulcus arched (Fig. 6 ); clypeus gently and weakly convex, scarcely protuberant (Figs 6 , 17 , 19 ), extending in front of compound eye by about 0.5 × compound eye width; labrum wider than long, width 1.7 × length, without lateral oval windows of transparent integument (Fig. 20 ), surface gently and weakly convex with weak subtriangular proximal medial depression; prementum ventrally with abundant, elongate (1.0-1.9 × median ocellar diameter), erect to suberect, simple setae (Figs 15 , 19 , 21 ); galea shorter than stipes; mesoscutum with abundant, appressed, squamose setae (Fig. 18 ), intermixed with sparse, erect, minutely spicate setae (0.8-1.0 × median ocellar diameter); probasitarsus elongate, slender, length approximately 3 × width; mesotibial spur about as long as mesobasitarsus; forewing with r-rs distinctly shorter than 3Rs, 1rs-m distad 1m-cu, and 1cu-a about 4 × as long as 2M+Cu; hind wing with 10 or more distal hamuli arranged in a dense series.

Etymology.

The new genus-group name is a combination of Khuzi, the Middle Persian name for the ancient Susian people, and from which the regional name Khuzestan derives (and encompasses the type locality of the type species), and the Greek, mélissa (μέλισσα), meaning, “bee”. The gender of the name is feminine.

Included species.

The genus presently includes only the type species, Khuzimelissa deserta (Warncke), comb. n., which has been recorded from Iran (Khuzestan) and Pakistan (Balochistan).

Figures

Figures 12 - 15. Labial palpi of representative species (to same scale) and labiomaxillary complex of Khuzimelissa deserta (Warncke), comb. n. (not to same scale), all in ventral view. 12 Labial palpus of Belliturgula najdica Engel, gen. et sp. n. 13 labial palpus of K. deserta 14 labial palpus of Flavomeliturgula (Flavomeliturgula) lacrymosa (Popov) 15 photograph of labiomaxillary complex of K. deserta.

Figures 5 - 7. Female faces of representative Meliturgulina. 5 Belliturgula najdica Engel, gen. et sp. n., from Saudi Arabia (note arched outer subantennal sulci) 6 Khuzimelissa deserta (Warncke), comb. n., from Pakistan 7 Flavomeliturgula (Flavomeliturgula) lacrymosa (Popov) from Iran (note straight outer subantennal sulci).

Figures 19 - 21. Female of Khuzimelissa deserta (Warncke), comb. n., from Pakistan. 19 Head and mouthparts in profile 20 dorsal-frontal view of mouthparts 21 extended labiomaxillary complex in profile.

Figures 16 - 18. Female of Khuzimelissa deserta (Warncke), comb. n., from Pakistan. 16 Dorsal habitus 17 lateral habitus 18 detail of mesosoma and anterior metasomal dorsum.

Figures 24 - 26. Female pygidial plates. 24 Belliturgula najdica Engel, gen. et sp. n. 25 Khuzimelissa deserta (Warncke), comb. n. 26 Flavomeliturgula (Flavomeliturgula) lacrymosa (Popov).