Andrena (Poecilandrena) sphecodimorpha mediterranea Pisanty & Scheuchl

Pisanty, Gideon, Scheuchl, Erwin & Dorchin, Netta, 2016, Eight new species of Andrena Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Andrenidae) from Israel — a Mediterranean hotspot for wild bees, Zootaxa 4189 (3), pp. 485-515 : 505-506

Andrena (Poecilandrena) sphecodimorpha mediterranea Pisanty & Scheuchl n. ssp.

( Figs. 9 , 12 G, 13G)

Female ( Fig. 9 A). Body length: 6.5–8 mm.

Color. Head, thorax, basal part of tergum 1, and tergum 5 black. Apical part of tergum 1, terga 2–4, sterna 2–3 and often parts of sternum 4 reddish-orange ( Fig. 9 D). Flagellum brownish-orange anteriorly ( Fig. 9 B). Wings tarnished slightly brownish, veins dark brown.

Pubescence. Head with golden hairs ( Fig. 9 B–C). Facial foveae golden ( Fig. 9 C). Mesonotum, scutellum and metanotum with dense golden hairs, most of them very short; cuticle visible ( Fig. 9 C). Mesepisternum with very long white to golden hairs. Propodeal corbicula incomplete, posterodorsal margin with dense and long, white to golden hairs; surface of corbicula with long, unbranched hairs. Coxae, trochanters and femora with golden-white hairs; flocculus white; apex of hind femur with brown hairs. Tibiae and tarsi with brown to brownish-white hairs; scopa white to light brown anteriorly and dark brown posteriorly. Terga with very short and fine, inconspicuous bright hairs; marginal zone of tergum 4 with continuous band of short white to golden hairs ( Fig. 9 D). Prepygidial fimbria brown ( Fig. 9 D). Sternal marginal zones with bands of long white hairs.

Head ( Fig. 9 B–C). Slightly broader than long ( Fig. 9 B). Glossa about 2.5 times as long as broad. Galea very finely shagreened. Labral process trapezoidal. Clypeus weakly convex, shagreened, sometimes almost smooth apically, distinctly punctured, distance between punctures 1–2 puncture diameters, puncture size medium to large, with narrow impunctate midline ( Fig. 9 B). Fovea extending from level of middle of lateral ocellus to slightly below lower edge of antennal socket, occupying about 1/4 of paraocular area width. Distance of fovea from lateral ocellus 1.5–1.7 ocellus diameters ( Fig. 9 C). Flagellomere 1 slightly longer than 2+3; 2–3 broader than long ( Fig. 9 B). Ocelloccipital distance about 1/2 ocellus diameter ( Fig. 9 C).

Mesosoma ( Fig. 9 C). Mesonotum shagreened, finely and densely punctured, distance between punctures 0–1 puncture diameters. Scutellum shagreened, sometimes almost smooth on top, puncturing somewhat sparser than mesonotum, distance between punctures 0.5–1.5 puncture diameters. Propodeal triangle finely rugose basally, finely shagreened apically. Recurrent vein 1 meeting submarginal cell 2 at 1/3–2/3 of distance between submarginal crossveins 1 and 2. Nervulus interstitial to strongly antefurcal.

Metasoma ( Fig. 9 D). Terga 1–3 smooth on disc, shagreened on marginal zones; tergum 4 weakly shagreened and tergum 5 strongly so. Punctures on terga 1–3 of moderate size, on terga 4–5 finer, distance between punctures about 1 puncture diameter. Marginal zone of tergum 1 hardly depressed, those of following terga depressed weakly. Pygidial plate without raised central zone.

Male ( Fig. 9 E). Length: 6–6.5 mm.

Color. Head and mesosoma black; Clypeus yellow to white except along margins; two darker lateral spots sometimes only barely discernible ( Fig. 9 F). Paraocular area usually with small yellow to white spot near apex, not reaching anterior tentorial pit ( Fig. 9 F). Flagellomeres 3–11 brown ( Fig. 9 E–F). Metasoma as in female; sternum 4 usually fully reddish-orange ( Fig. 9 H).

Pubescence. Head and mesosoma (excluding propodeum) with long hairs, golden dorsally, white ventrally ( Fig. 9 F–G). Paraocular and supraclypeal areas with golden hairs ( Fig. 9 F). Clypeus, genal area and mesepisternum with golden hairs dorsally and white hairs ventrally ( Fig. 9 E–F). Mesonotum, scutellum and metanotum with golden hairs ( Fig. 9 G). Coxae, trochanters and femora with white hairs; tibiae and tarsi with golden to white hairs. Terga with very short and fine, inconspicuous bright hairs ( Fig. 9 H). Marginal zone of tergum 5 with continuous band of long white to golden hair; anal fimbria white to golden ( Fig. 9 H). Sterna with bands of long white hairs on marginal zones.

Head ( Fig. 9 F–G). Broader than long ( Fig. 9 F). Clypeus moderately convex, shagreened basally and almost smooth apically, moderately punctured, distance between punctures 1–2 puncture diameters, often with narrow impunctate midline on apical part. Flagellomere proportions as in female. Ocelloccipital distance about 3/4 ocellus diameter ( Fig. 9 G).

Mesosoma ( Fig. 9 G). Mesonotum and scutellum shagreened but shiny on top, finely punctured, distance between punctures 1–1.5 puncture diameters. Propodeal triangle and wing venation as in female.

Metasoma ( Fig. 9 H). Tergum 1 smooth to superficially shagreened. Terga 2–4 shagreened on basal part of disc, smooth to superficially shagreened on apical part of disc, and lightly shagreened on marginal zones. Terga 5– 6 shagreened. Punctures on terga 1–4 of moderate size, on terga 5–6 finer, distance between punctures 1–1.5 puncture diameters. Marginal zone of tergum 1 hardly depressed, those of following terga weakly depressed.

Genitalia and hidden sterna ( Figs. 12 G, 13G). Dorsal lobes of gonocoxites absent. Apex of gonostylus extremely elongate and thin. Penis valves very long and narrow, tapering apically, with raised dorsal carina ( Fig. 12 G). Sternum 8 columnar, very narrow and elongate, apex very slightly broadened ( Fig. 13 G).

Differential diagnosis. Andrena s. mediterranea differs from the nominate subspecies by the stronger shagreenation of the clypeus, mesonotum and scutellum, mostly golden pilosity of the female (black in A. s. sphecodimorpha ), and smaller yellow paraocular maculae in the male. Similar differences distinguish A. s. mediterranea from A. hybrida (in A. hybrida the pilosity is more whitish), as well as the absence of a lateral black spot on tergum 2 (usually present in A. hybrida ) and darker flagellum.

Flight period: February–April.

Flower records: Amaryllidaceae : Allium trifoliatum (1♀); Brassicaceae : Diplotaxis erucoides (1♀, 1Ƌ); Hirschfeldia incana (1♀); Iridaceae : Moraea sisyrinchium (1♀). The majority of specimens collected from pan traps.

Etymology. Named after the Mediterranean distribution and habitat characteristic of the subspecies.

Holotype: ♀, ISRAEL: Lakhish , 2km E, 4.iii.2016, G. Pisanty [ SMNHTAU].

Paratypes: ISRAEL: east of Hadera , 8.iv.2015, R. Salomon (1♀); Har Meron, 1000m , 1.iv.2012, A. Freidberg (1♀, 1Ƌ); Karei Deshe, 27.ii.2012, T. Shapira (18♀, 24Ƌ); 19.iii.2012, T. Shapira (10♀, 1Ƌ); 20.iii.2012, T. Shapira (1♀); 8.iv.2012, T. Shapira (1♀); 23.iv.2012, T. Shapira (1♀); 9.ii.2013, T. Shapira (1♀, 2Ƌ); 10.ii.2013, T. Shapira (1♀, 8Ƌ); 1.iii.2013, T. Shapira (22♀, 3Ƌ); 2.iii.2013, T. Shapira (23♀, 5Ƌ); 13.iii.2013, T. Shapira (1♀, 3Ƌ); 14.iii.2013, T. Shapira (2♀, 1Ƌ); 4.iv.2013, T. Shapira (1♀); 24.iv.2013, T. Shapira (1♀); Kefar ' Avoda, 13.iii.2012, O. Afik (1♀) ; 1.iv.2012, O. Afik (1♀); Kefar Menahem , 2.iii.2008, U. Roll (1♀) ; 14.ii.2010, M. Dorman (1♀); 19.ii.2010, G. Pisanty (1Ƌ); Kefar Szold, 1948, H. Bytinski-Salz (1Ƌ); Lakhish, 21.iii.2012, T. Shapira (1Ƌ); 18.ii.2013, T. Shapira (1♀); 6.iii.2013, T. Shapira (2♀); 13.iii.2013, T. Shapira (1♀); 18.iii.2013, T. Shapira (1♀); 19.iii.2013, T. Shapira (2♀); Lakhish , 2km E, 4.iii.2016, G. Pisanty (1♀) ; Malkiyya , 28.iv.2015, O. Winberger (2♀) ; Mount Carmel , 9.iii.2014, G. Ballantyne (1♀) ; 27.iii.2014, G. Ballantyne (1♀); 9.iii.2015, G. Ballantyne (1♀); Nahal Dishon , 1.iv.1991, R. Kasher (1♀) ; Netiv Halamed Heh , 16.ii.2010, G. Pisanty (1Ƌ); Park Britannia , 24.iv.2011, T. Koznichki (1♀); Qasabiya , 17.ii.1984, I. Nussbaum (1♀) ; Ramat Hanadiv , 22.iii.2012, T. Shapira (2♀) ; 11.iv.2012, T. Shapira (2♀); 26.ii.2013, T. Shapira (5♀); Rosh Pina , 12.iii.1974, A. Freidberg (1Ƌ); Sasa , 27.iv.2015, O. Winberger (1♀); Ya'ar Adulam , 14.ii.2011, T. Koznichki (2Ƌ) ; 20.iv.2011, T. Koznichki (1♀); 20.ii.2013, Y. Berner (1Ƌ); Ya'ar Yish'i, 26.iv.2011, T. Koznichki (1♀); 26.ii.2013, Y. Berner (1♀); Zur Moshe , i. iv.2012, O. Afik (1♀). WEST BANK: Qedumim , 27.ii.2015, L. Friedman (1Ƌ) [AMNH, ES, OLML, SMNHTAU, USNM, ZSMC].

Remarks. The various subspecies of A. sphecodimorpha and A. hybrida are very closely related, and differ mostly in color and in the degree of shagreening. The genitalia are essentially identical, whereas most species of Poecilandrena exhibit significant variation in genital morphology. A. s. mediterranea is separated geographically from other members of the group, especially from its nominate subspecies. It occurs in northern and central Israel and possibly in neighboring countries, whereas the nominate subspecies occurs in Eastern Europe from Ukraine to Greece. Judging from the geographical distribution and morphological variation, we regard A. s. mediterranea as a borderline case in terms of species divergence, and this taxon may well be regarded by others as a distinct species. The level of divergence within the A. sphecodimorpha – A. hybrida complex merits further investigation, preferably with the aid of molecular data, which could not be obtained in the current study due to the old age of the available specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Andrena sphecodimorpha mediterranea n. ssp., female (A – D) and male (E – H): A, E, habitus, lateral view; B, F, head, anterior view; C, G, head and mesosoma, dorsal view; D, H, metasoma, dorsal view.

FIGURE 12. Male genital capsules, dorsal view: A, Andrena israelica n. sp.; B, A. judaea n. sp.; C, A. palaestina n. sp.; D, A. hermonella n. sp.; E, A. menahemella n. sp.; F, A. wolfi; G, A. sphecodimorpha mediterranea n. ssp.; H, A. perahia n. sp.; I, A. crocusella n. sp.

FIGURE 13. Male eighth sterna, ventral view: A, Andrena israelica n. sp.; B, A. judaea n. sp.; C, A. palaestina n. sp.; D, A. hermonella n. sp.; E, A. menahemella n. sp.; F, A. wolfi; G, A. sphecodimorpha mediterranea n. ssp.; H, A. perahia n. sp.; I, A. crocusella n. sp.