Limbandrena subgen. nov.

Wood, Thomas J., 2023, The genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 in the Iberian Peninsula (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 96, pp. 241-484 : 241

Subgenus Limbandrena subgen. nov.

Type species.

Andrena limbata Eversmann, 1852 (illustrated by Astafurova et al. 2022).

Remarks.

Historically, A. toelgiana Friese, 1921 has been considered the sister species to A. limbata , differing by the yellow clypeus in the female sex (see Gusenleitner and Schwarz 2002). However, the male is unknown. Structurally, there are no differences. Examination of specimens from Bulgaria and Turkey show a gradient of yellow colouration on the clypeus, from entirely black, with a narrow longitudinal yellow strip, predominantly yellow-marked, and entirely yellow-marked (Fig. 42 ). Across this gradient there is also variation in the strength of the tergal hair bands, with material nominally conforming to A. toelgiana falling closer to A. limbata s. str. in displaying clear hair bands, whereas the subspecies A. limbata dusmeti Warncke, 1975 (Portugal, Spain, southern France, north-western Italy) has hair bands that are almost absent in fresh specimens (Figs 43C-H , 44A, B, E, F ). On the basis of this colour gradient, absence of structural characters, and lack of a described male that could offer a distinctive difference, A. toelgiana syn. nov. is synonymised with A. limbata .

Diagnosis.

Limbandrena (and, de facto, A. limbata ) can be recognised in the female sex due to the combination of squamous brown hairs on the scutum, scutellum, and metanotum (Fig. 43A ), the long ocelloccipital distance equal to three times the diameter of a lateral ocellus (Fig. 43B ), the posterior face of the hind femur which lacks a transverse carina and transverse row of raised teeth or spines, the weakly and shallowly punctate dorsolateral surfaces of the propodeum, the laterally clearly delineated and internally finely rugose propodeal triangle (not rugosely areolate), the pronotum with at most a weak lateral angle, the more or less squarish head which is only 1.1 times wider than long, and the simple hind tibial spur that is not broadened basally or medially.

Males can be recognised by most of the same characters: the yellow clypeus (Fig. 44C, D ), the relatively rounded head which is only 1.1-1.2 times broader than long (Fig. 44C, D ), the long ocelloccipital distance equal to three times the diameter of a lateral ocellus, the pronotum with at most a weak lateral angle, the weakly and shallowly punctate dorsolateral surfaces of the propodeum, the laterally clearly delineated and internally finely rugose propodeal triangle (not rugosely areolate), and the genital capsule with weakly produced rounded gonocoxal teeth, gonostyli with weakly raised and rounded projection on inner margin, and penis valves with rounded lateral hyaline extensions (Fig. 44G, H ). No other Andrena species shows this combination of characters.

Description.

Medium-sized bees (11-14 mm) with dark integument with exception of yellow maculations on female (sometimes) and male clypeus (always). Head 1.1-1.2 times broader than long, compound eyes with inner margins weakly converging apically. Gena slightly exceeding width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance long, 3 times diameter of lateral ocellus. Facial fovea moderate, occupying ½ space between lateral ocellus and compound eye. Female scutum, scutellum, and metanotum covered with short brown squamous hairs. Pronotum laterally with weak humeral angle. Dorsolateral surface of propodeum weakly and shallowly but regularly punctate, punctures separated by 0.5-1 puncture diameter. Propodeal triangle clearly delineated laterally by raised carinae, internal surface with clear pattern of fine rugosity medially, not extending over entire area. Forewing with nervulus strongly postfurcal. Hind tibial spurs simple, not broadened basally or medially, apically weakly bent. Terga densely and finely punctate, punctures separated by 0.5 puncture diameters. Male genital capsule slightly elongate, with produced and weakly rounded gonocoxal teeth. Gonostyli with weakly raised and rounded projection on inner margin. Penis valves produced into rounded hyaline extensions laterally, occupying majority of space between gonostyli.

Etymology.

The name is taken from the name of the type species A. limbata , with Andrena limbata being the feminine singular of the adjective limbatus which means edged or fringed, probably in reference to the distinct squamous hairs on the female scutum and scutellum. The gender is feminine.

Included species.

Andrena limbata (Europe from Portugal and Spain to Turkey, Israel, northern Iran, and the Ural Mountains; Gusenleitner and Schwarz 2002).

Material examined (illustrative).

Albania: Lopan [Lapanj], 14.vi.2018, 2♀, leg. Kobe Janssen collection (Belgium) ; Bulgaria: Lozenec [Lozenets, Лозенец]/Mičurin, 24.vi.1988, 5♀, leg. B. & O. Tkalců, OÖLM ; Croatia: Istrien, Rovinjsko Selo , 8-9.vi.2012, 1♀, leg. Holzmann, OÖLM ; France: B. d. R., Fontvieille, 28.v.1993, 4♀, leg. H. & J.E. Wiering, RMNH; Georgia: E Tbilisi, lori river S Sagarejo , 19.vi.2015, 3♀, leg. M. Snižek, OÖLM ; Greece: Kos I. Kefalos, 4.v.1989, 2♀, leg. K.M. Guichard, NHMUK; Peloponnese, 12 km NWW Sparti , 26.v.2005, 1♀, leg. M. Kadlecová, OÖLM ; Italy: Arezzo, Oliveto , 28.v.1989, 3♀, leg. H. & J.E. Wiering, RMNH; Piemonte, S. Benefetto Belbo, 10.vi.1979, 1♀, leg. Pagliano, MRSN ; Portugal: Manteigas, Serra da Estrela [40.4009°N, - 7.5396°E], 28.iv.-9.vii.1929, 1♀, leg. Kricheldorf, OÖLM (holotype of A. limbata dusmeti ) ; Spain: Segovia, Madrona, 500 m NE, Arroyo del Hocino , 15.v.2021, 1♂, 2♀, leg. T.J. Wood, TJWC; Ávila, Hoyocasero , 1350 m, 20.v.1995, 1♂, 2♀, leg. H. & J.E. Wiering, RMNH ; Turkey: Tanin-Tanin-Pass, 1700 m, 12.vi.1984, 1♀, OÖLM; Karatepe / Adana, 17.iv.1984, 3♂, 1♀, leg. K. Warncke, OÖLM; Akyaka, Yeşilova, 20.vi.2016, 1♀, leg. M. Kasparek, OÖLM .

Figures

Figure 42. Andrena (Limbandrena) limbata Eversmann, 1852 female head in frontal view on west-east gradient A Spain B Bulgaria C Turkey (Gueruen) D Turkey (Bingoel) E Turkey (Bingoel) F Turkey (Diyarbakir).

Figure 43. Andrena (Limbandrena) limbata Eversmann, 1852, female A scutum, dorsal view B head, dorso-frontal view; Andrena limbata dusmeti Warncke, 1967 female C profile D terga, dorsal view; A. limbata s. str. female, Bulgarian specimen E profile F terga, dorsal view; A. limbata s. str. female, Turkish specimen G profile H terga, dorsal view.

Figure 44. Andrena (Limbandrena) limbata Eversmann, 1852, Turkish male A profile C face, frontal view E terga, dorsal view G genital capsule; Andrena limbata dusmeti Warncke, 1967, Spanish male B profile D face, frontal view F terga, dorsal view H genital capsule.