Flavomeliturgula Freyamelissa 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

Flavomeliturgula Freyamelissa Engel subgen. n.

Type species.

Flavomeliturgula berangeriae Patiny, 2002.

Diagnosis.

The subgenus can be distinguished by the combination of: mesoscutum entirely black without yellow maculation, surface with scattered setae of 1-1.5 × median ocellar diameter; basal area of propodeum with setae; and hind wing with 6-7 distal hamuli along anterior wing margin.

Etymology.

The new subgeneric name is a combination of Freya, for the famed explorer of Arabia, Persia, and Afghanistan, Freya Madeline Stark (1893-1993), and the Greek, mélissa (μέλισσα), meaning, “bee”. The gender of the name is feminine.

Included species.

The subgenus includes two species: F. (Freyamelissa) berangeriae and F. (F.) schwarziana Patiny, from southwestern Iran (Bushehr) and southern Pakistan (Balochistan).