3.1.2.20. Andrena (Micrandrena) phoenicia Pisanty sp. nov.

Figures 12, 17 D, I, 20 P

Etymology.

Nominative feminine singular form of the Latin adjective phoenicius (= Phoenician).

Diagnosis.

Within the Andrena minutula species group, the female of A. phoenicia is characterized by the combination of a labral process which is large and trapezoidal, a clypeus which is apically protuberant and strongly domed, strongly shagreened throughout and finely, sparsely punctured, a scutum which is shagreened, finely and densely punctured, and terga which are shagreened and impunctate. The male is characterized most clearly by the genitalia which possess large rounded dorsal gonocoxite lobes and gonostyli with a strong inward king near the apex. The species is most closely related to A. stolida Warncke and A. simontornyella Noskiewicz, which share similar genitalia. The female differs in the larger labral process (Figs 17 D, 18 D), the clypeus which is transversely arched and apically protuberant (domed and not apically protuberant in A. stolida and A. simontornyella), and the moderately dull scutum (centrally shiny in A. stolida, completely dull and more weakly punctured in A. simontornyella; Figs 12 C, 17 I, 18 J). The male differs in the larger dorsal gonocoxite lobes which, when viewed together, are broader than the width of the visible base of the penis valves (slightly narrower than this width in the comparison species; Fig. 20 P, Q).

Description.

Female. Body length: 6–6.5 mm. — Integumental colour: Body and legs black. Flagellum dark, distal flagellomeres often with weak reddish hue anteriorly. Apical tarsomeres brown. Wings weakly infuscate, veins and stigma brown (Fig. 12 A). Tergal marginal zones black almost to apex (Fig. 12 D). — Pubescence: Body hair relatively sparse, mostly short to medium-lengthed, brightly coloured. Clypeus with sparse, short and thin, whitish plumose hairs. Paraocular area and frons with moderately dense, medium-lengthed plumose whitish hairs (Fig. 12 A, B). Facial foveae with dense, minute whitish to brownish hairs, colour changing with angle of view (Fig. 12 B, C). Vertex with sparse, erect brownish hairs of varying length. Genal area with sparse short whitish hair (Fig. 12 A – C). Discs of scutum and scutellum with moderately dense, inconspicuous thin brownish-golden hairs, the majority very short, with few medium-lengthed scattered in between. Periphery of scutum and scutellum with narrow band of short and thick, golden plumose hairs (Fig. 12 A, C). Mesepisternum with moderately dense, long whitish plumose hairs. Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsoposterior fringe composed of long whitish plumose hairs, corbicular surface with few, long whitish simple hairs. Leg hair whitish to brownish. Flocculus incomplete, white. Femoral and tibial scopae well-developed, whitish, tibial scopal hairs simple (Fig. 12 A). Metasomal surface almost hairless, tergal discs centrally with sparse, minute inconspicuous whitish hairs, laterally with few short whitish hairs. Tergal marginal zones with few medium-lengthed white hairs basolaterally, tergal hair bands absent. Terminal fringe golden to light brown centrally, laterally flanked by few white hairs (Fig. 12 A, D). — Head: 1.15 times broader than long. Mandibles bidentate, moderately crossed. Galea finely shagreened. Labral process broad and large, shiny, trapezoidal. Clypeus transversely arched, fully shagreened and matt, non-rugose or at most with hint of very weak, fine transverse striation on basal half, punctation fine and shallow, distance between punctures 1–2 puncture diameters, an impunctate midline is weakly indicated on basal ¾ (Figs 12 B, 17 D). Malar area undeveloped. Supraclypeal area longitudinally striated. Paraocular area strongly longitudinally striated, becoming punctate near apex. Flagellomere 1 slightly longer than 2 + 3, 3 slightly longer than 2 (Fig. 12 B). Facial fovea about half as broad as antennocular distance above, weakly tapering below, extending from level of lower end of lateral ocellus to base of clypeus or slightly above, separated from compound eye by narrow strip of smooth cuticle. Distance of fovea from lateral ocellus 1.7 ocellus diameters. Frons coarsely, obliquely striated to rugose-areolate below, more finely and longitudinally so above, medial carina almost reaching frontal ocellus (Fig. 12 B, C). Vertex with shallow but distinct groove behind lateral ocelli, dorsal preoccipital ridge moderately carinate. Ocelloccipital distance equals 1 ocellus diameter (Fig. 12 C). — Mesosoma: Dorsolateral angle of pronotum not elevated. Scutum and scutellum entirely finely shagreened, finely punctured, distance between punctures 0.5–1.5 puncture diameters (Fig. 12 C, 15 F). Mesepisternum anteriorly with oblique punctures often resembling star-shaped wrinkles, posteriorly shagreened. Propodeal corbicula finely reticulate, with few large crater-shaped punctures around hair bases. Posterior part of propodeum rugose-areolate, propodeal triangle weakly delineated, with areolation gradually finer apically (Fig. 12 C). Hind pretarsal claw with small inner tooth. Recurrent vein 1 reaching submarginal cell 2 at its middle or slightly proximal to it. Nervulus weakly to distinctly antefurcal (Fig. 12 A). — Metasoma: Tergal discs fully shagreened, impunctate. Tergal marginal zones 2–4 arched, 2 fully shagreened, hardly depressed, the following gradually smoother and more strongly depressed (Fig. 12 D). Pygidial plate simple, without elevated central zone. — Male. Body length: 5.5–6.5 mm. — Integumental colour: As in female, but flagellum entirely black to dark brown, without reddish hue (Fig. 12 E, H). — Pubescence: Body hair mostly white. Clypeus with dense long plumose hairs, partly obscuring underlying cuticle. Rest of face and scape with moderately dense white hair of varying length (Fig. 12 E, F). Vertex and gena with whitish erect hair, fully white and very long ventrally (Fig. 12 E – G). Periphery of scutum and scutellum with moderately dense whitish hair, disc of scutum with minute, inconspicuous erect whitish hair. Mesepisternum and propodeum with very long, white plumose hair (Fig. 12 E, G). Leg hair white (Fig. 12 E). Tergal discs centrally with minute inconspicuous hair, laterally with short whitish hair. Tergal marginal zones with white hairs basolaterally, forming very weak lateral hair bands. Terminal fringe white (Fig. 12 E, H). — Head: 1.2 times broader than long (Fig. 12 F). Mandibles bidentate, moderately crossed. Galea finely shagreened. Labral process rectangular, smooth. Clypeus arched, densely but shallowly punctured, distance between punctures 0–1 puncture diameters, without impunctate midline, clypeal surface roughened and slightly rugose by elevated puncture margins. Malar area undeveloped. Supraclypeal area longitudinally striated. Paraocular area densely, finely punctate near compound eye, strongly longitudinally striated centrally. Flagellomere 1 about as long as 2 + 3, 3 longer than 2 (Fig. 12 F). Frons coarsely, obliquely striated to rugose-areolate below, finely areolate above. Vertex with shallow but distinct groove behind lateral ocelli, dorsal preoccipital ridge carinate. Ocelloccipital distance equals 1 ocellus diameter (Fig. 12 G). — Mesosoma: Scutum dull, fully, granularly shagreened, densely and finely punctured, distance between punctures 0–1 puncture diameters, some punctures with raised margins (crater-like). Scutellum similar but without crater-like punctures, surface occasionally smoother (Fig. 12 G). Hind pretarsal claw bifurcated. Nervulus interstitial to antefurcal. Rest of mesosoma as in female. — Metasoma: Tergal discs 1–2 fully shagreened, essentially impunctate, 3 and especially 4 often smoother and more weakly shagreened, with hint of very fine punctation. Tergal marginal zones 2–4 weakly arched, moderately depressed, impunctate, 2 more or less fully shagreened, the following gradually smoother (Fig. 12 H). — Genitalia and hidden sterna: Dorsal gonocoxite lobes well-developed, broad, mostly rounded but with weak apicolateral points. Gonostyli thick, outer margins with strong inward curve on distal half, apexes rounded. Penis valves broad basally, basal 2 / 3 tapering apically (Fig. 20 P). Sternum 8 simple, columnar, apical process broadened, apical margin weakly but distinctly emarginate, resembling a fishtail.

Distribution and habitat.

Mesic habitats in Israel and Syria, likely also Lebanon.

Flight period.

Early April to late May.

Flower records.

Collected on Brassicaceae ( Peltaria, Sinapis), Euphorbiaceae ( Euphorbia) and Rosaceae ( Crataegus).

Type material.

HOLOTYPE: ISRAEL ● 1 ♀; Har Meron [Mount Meron]; 32.999°N 35.395°E; [1012 m a. s. l.]; 5 Apr. 2016; G. Pisanty leg.; SMNHTAU 239370 . – PARATYPES: ISRAEL ● 1 ♀; Abirim, 24 km NE Akko; 17 Apr. 1990; R. Kasher leg.; SMNHTAU 353635 ● 1 ♂; Bar’am; 4 Apr. 2014; N. Atkin leg.; SMNHTAU 183543 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; 7 Apr. 2015; O. Winberger leg.; SMNHTAU 184627 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; 1 Apr. 2016; SMNHTAU 251882 ● 1 ♀; ibid.; 20 Apr. 2014; on Sinapis; SMNHTAU 183353 ● 1 ♀; Dovev; 3 Apr. 2016; O. Winberger leg.; SMNHTAU 252147 ● 2 ♀; Har Hermon; 33°18’N 35°46’E; 1700 m a. s. l.; 24 May 2012; L. Friedman leg.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 402-25; SMNHTAU 126599 ● 1 ♂; Har Hermon; 33.300°N 35.767°E; 1620 m a. s. l.; 11 May 2020; G. Pisanty leg; NHMUK ● 1 ♂; ibid.; 1600 m a. s. l.; pan trap; SMNHTAU 334873 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 480-25; SMNHTAU 334872 ● 1 ♀; Har Meron; 32.9945°N 35.415°E; 5 Apr. 2016; G. Pisanty leg.; RMNH ● 1 ♀; ibid.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 428-25; SMNHTAU 239429 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; SMNHTAU 239433 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 429-25; SMNHTAU 239434 ● 2 ♀; ibid.; 33.000°N 35.3925°E; 22 Apr. 2016; SMNHTAU 240982, 240987 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; 33.000°N 35.3927°E; 4 Apr. 2017; pan trap; SMNHTAU 270258 ● 1 ♂; Har Meron; 1000 m a. s. l.; 17 Apr. 2012; L. Friedman leg.; SMNHTAU 124545 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; 1 May 2022; SMNHTAU 391417 ● 1 ♀; Har Meron Reserve, Camping under Kefar Meron; 32°58’N 35°26’E; 600 m a. s. l.; 25 Apr. 2002; L. Friedman leg.; SMNHTAU 353668 ● 2 ♀; Hermon; 33.291–4°N 35.747–51°E; 1440–1550 m a. s. l.; 29 Apr. 2022; G. Pisanty leg.; sweep; SMNHTAU 391561, 391562 ● 1 ♀; ibid.; NHMUK ● 1 ♀; Hermon, Biq’at Man; 33.292°N 35.751°E; 1450 m a. s. l.; 29 Apr. 2022; G. Pisanty leg.; pan trap; SMNHTAU 391432 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; SMNHTAU 391430 ● 1 ♀; ibid.; on Peltaria angustifolia; SMNHTAU 391524 ● 2 ♀; ibid.; OLML ● 1 ♀; Hermon, Har Kahal; 33.2885°N 35.730–737 ° E; 1210–1320 m a. s. l.; 29 Apr. 2022; G. Pisanty leg.; SMNHTAU 391277 ● 1 ♀; ibid.; 33.289°N 35.730–744 ° E; 1210–1360 m a. s. l.; on Crataegus; SMNHTAU 391319 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; SMNHTAU 391320 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; OLML ● 1 ♀, 1 ♂; ibid.; RMNH ● 2 ♀; Hermon Nat. Res.; 33.292°N 35.7505°E; 1467 m a. s. l.; 29 Apr. 2022; G. Pisanty leg.; on Euphorbia; SMNHTAU 391491, 391492 ● 1 ♀; Meiron; 23 Apr. 1973; M. Kaplan leg.; SMNHTAU ● 2 ♀; Merom Golan, N Golan Height; 20 Apr. 1997; R. Kasher leg.; SMNHTAU 353776, 353777 ● 1 ♀; Mt. Carmel, En Hod; 4 Apr. 1999; S. P. M. Roberts leg.; TJWC ● 2 ♀; Mt. Carmel, Mitla; 3 Apr. 1999; S. P. M. Roberts leg.; TJWC ● 1 ♀; Mt. Meron; 9 Apr. 1977. A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU 353649 ● 1 ♀; Mt. Meron; 900 m a. s. l.; 13 Apr. 1988, I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU 353721 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; SMNHTAU 354498 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; 11 Apr. 1999; S. P. M. Roberts leg.; TJWC ● 1 ♀; Ya’ar Odem NR; 33.205°N 35.736°E; 27 Apr. 2020; G. Pisanty leg.; pan trap; SMNHTAU 334552 . – SYRIA ● 1 ♂; Tartus, Safita, 10 km E; 300 m a. s. l.; 3 Apr. 1988; L. Blank leg.; OLML .