3.1.2.6. Andrena (Micrandrena) calandra Warncke, 1975

Figures 6, 15 C, E, 20 H

Andrena calandra Warncke, 1975 a: 47–48, ♀ [SE Turkey: OLML].

Diagnosis of male.

The male of A. calandra, similarly to the female, is easily distinguished from other members of the A. minutula group by the combination of a small body size, strong orange colouration of the anterior of the flagellum, polished and mirror-smooth scutum (Fig. 6 C), and distinctly punctured tergal discs (Fig. 6 D). It is most similar to A. tkalcui Gusenleitner & Schwarz, but clearly differs in the genitalia which lack a strong dorsal gonocoxite lobe (Fig. 20 F, H), the eighth sternum which is apically truncate (strongly emarginate in A. tkalcui, Fig. 20 W), and the clearly punctate tergal discs. In addition, the scutum of A. tkalcui is often partly shagreened centrally, and only occasionally mirror-smooth.

Description of male.

Body length: 4.5–5.5 mm. — Integumental colour: Head and mesosoma black (Fig. 6 A). Flagellum posteriorly black to reddish-brown, anteriorly flagellomere 1 black to reddish-black, the following flagellomeres reddish to orange. Legs black to dark brown, apical tarsomeres golden to light brown. Wings hyaline, vein R of forewing dark brown, internal veins golden to slightly brownish, stigma brownish-golden peripherally, yellow centrally (Fig. 6 A). Metasoma usually black, occasionally partly to fully reddish-brown. Tergal marginal zones usually as dark as adjacent tergal discs, occasionally more brownish near apex (Fig. 6 D). — Pubescence: Almost completely white (Fig. 6 A). Lower ⅔ of face, including clypeus, supraclypeal and paraocular areas, scape and lower part of frons, with moderately dense, erect to semi-erect, short to medium white hairs (Fig. 6 A, B). Upper part of frons and ocellar triangle with sparse, short to medium white hairs. Preoccipital ridge with short to medium erect white hairs. Genal area with moderately dense white hair, short dorsally, medium-lengthed ventrally (Fig. 6 A – C). Discs of scutum and scutellum with sparse, short to medium erect white hair. Metanotum and periphery of scutum and scutellum with moderately dense, medium-lengthed erect white hair. Mesepisternum and propodeum with long white hair (Fig. 6 A, C). Leg hair almost completely white, foretarsal hair with weak golden reflections (Fig. 6 A). Base of tergal disc 1 and lateral parts of all terga with sparse, short to medium white hair, rest of tergal discs with minute inconspicuous white hair (Fig. 6 D). Tergal marginal zones 2–5 with weak bands of white hair, strongly interrupted on 2–3, continuous on 4–5. Terminal fringe whitish (Fig. 6 A, D). — Head: 1.3 times broader than long. Mandibles bidentate, moderately crossed. Galea very finely shagreened. Labral process subquadrate to weakly rectangular, apical margin concave (Fig. 6 B). Clypeus weakly domed to almost flat, very shiny and more or less completely smooth, occasionally with hints of transverse striation on basal half, punctation strong and dense, distance between punctures 0.5–1 puncture diameters. Flagellomere 0.8–1.0 times as long as broad, 0.9–1.1 times as long as 3, 1.1–1.4 times as long as 2. Frons honeycomb-areolated, with dense punctures embedded within the rugosity. Ocelloccipital distance about 1.2 ocellus diameters (Fig. 6 C). Preoccipital ridge weakly carinate. — Mesosoma: Dorsolateral angle of pronotum not elevated. Anterior margin of scutum shagreened, rest of scutum and scutellum extremely shiny and polished-smooth, strongly punctured, distance between punctures 0.5–2 puncture diameters (Fig. 6 C). Mesepisternum honeycomb-areolated, with dense punctures embedded within the rugosity. Anteroventral corner of propodeum reticulate, rest of propodeum rugose-areolate. Propodeal triangle occasionally delineated by partial carina, basally radially rugose to rugose-areolate, similar to flanking areas, apically very finely areolated (Fig. 6 C). Recurrent vein 1 meeting submarginal cell 2 slightly proximal to its middle. Nervulus antefurcal to interstitial (Fig. 6 A). — Metasoma: Sculpturing of tergal discs highly variable, basally more or less shagreened and matt, occasionally with fine transverse striation, apically shagreened and matt to completely smooth and shiny. Tergal discs with distinct, dense fine punctation, distance between punctures about 1 puncture diameter. Tergal marginal zones moderately depressed, superficially shagreened to smooth, impunctate, 2–3 centrally occupying about 0.3 and 0.5 of tergal length, respectively (Fig. 6 D). — Genitalia and hidden sterna: Gonocoxites with small, weakly rounded dorsal lobe. Gonostyli simple, finger-shaped, more or less uniformly broad, rounded apically. Penis valves moderately broad basally, parallel-sided close to visible base, then tapering apically (Fig. 20 H). Sternum 8 columnar, apical process broadened, apical margin more or less blunt.

Distribution and habitat.

Shrublands and semi-arid habitats in south-central Turkey and the the Levant * (Northern Israel *, Jordan *).

Flight period.

Late February to early June.

Flower records.

One female collected on Asphodelaceae ( Asphodelus).

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE: TURKEY ● ♀; Antakya; 4 Jun. 1965; M. Schwarz leg.; OLML . – PARATYPES: TURKEY ● 2 ♀; ibid ● 1 ♀; Anatolia, Antakya; 1–7 Jun. 1985; J. Gusenleitner leg.; OLML. – non-type material: ISRAEL ● 1 ♂; Biriyya Forest; 32.99– 33.00°N 35.52– 53°E; 19 May 2023; G. Pisanty leg.; SMNHTAU 429801 ● 1 ♀; Dovrat; 14 May 1974; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU 366404 ● 1 ♀; Haifa; 9 Mar. 1981; A. Dafni leg.; on Asphodelus; SMNHTAU 353612 ● 1 ♀; Har Hermon; 33.310°N 35.795°E; 1970 m a. s. l.; 15 May 2016; G. Pisanty leg.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 433-25; SMNHTAU 242238 ● 1 ♀; Karé Deshe; 27 Feb. 2012; T. Shapira leg.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 403-25; SMNHTAU 132140 ● 2 ♀; Kefar Barukh; 32.650°N 35.175– 180°E; 28 Mar. 2023; E. L. A. E. leg.; pan trap; SMNHTAU 463010, 463014 ● 1 ♀; Kfar Masaryk; 32.87°N 35.13°E; 4 Apr. 2023; E. L. A. E. leg.; pan trap; SMNHTAU 462857 ● 10 ♀; Moradot HaGolan NR, 2.15 km NW ’ Aleqa; 33.058°N 35.686°E; 488 m a. s. l.; 19 May 2019; A. Dorchin & A. Sviri leg.; Plot B 8; SMNHTAU 309078, 309083, 309085, 309094, 309098 to 309100, 309104, 309108, 309109 ● 1 ♀; ibid.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 462-25; SMNHTAU 309084 ● 1 ♂; Moradot HaGolan NR, 2.65 km NW ‘ Aleqa, Plot B 9; 33.061°N 35.682°E; 492 m a. s. l.; 19 May 2019; A. Dorchin & A. Sviri leg.; SMNHTAU 306627 ● 1 ♂; ibid.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 454-25; SMNHTAU 306618 ● 1 ♀; Mt. Carmel, Hay-Bar, 1 km S Univ.; 300 m a. s. l.; 15 Mar. 1990; R. Kasher leg.; SMNHTAU 366405 ● 1 ♀; Nahal Batra, Plot C 12; 32.916°N 35.688°E; 85 m a. s. l.; 23 May 2019; A. Dorchin & T. Roth leg.; SMNHTAU 306751 ● 1 ♂; Nahal Batra, Plot C 15; 32.936°N 35.711°E; 191 m a. s. l.; 23 May 2019; A. Dorchin & T. Roth leg.; SMNHTAU 306487 ● 1 ♀; Nahal Shuah, Plot A 7; 33.068°N 35.677°E; 464 m a. s. l.; 31 May 2019; A. Dorchin & T. Roth leg.; SMNHTAU 306822 ● 1 ♂; Nahal Yadbir, Plot B 1; 33.052°N 35.646°E; 124 m a. s. l.; 19 May 2019; A. Dorchin & A. Sviri leg.; RMNH ● 1 ♀; Road 91, 1.17 km NE Bet HaMekhes Jcn, Site D 4; 33.018°N 35.659°E; 316 m a. s. l.; 10 Apr. 2019; A. Dorchin & O. Halbershtat leg.; SMNHTAU 307390 ● 1 ♂; Ya’ar Yehudiyya NR, Rd. 87, Plot C 2; 32.930°N 35.689°E; 125 m a. s. l.; 23 Apr. 2019; A. Dorchin, T. Roth & O. Halbershtat leg.; BOLD accession no. ANDIL 453-25; SMNHTAU 306048. – JORDAN ● 1 ♂; Kufur; 4–5 May 2012; M. Kafka leg.; OLML ● 2 ♂; North Shuna; 29–30 Apr. 1996; Ma. Halada leg.; OLML ● 1 ♂; ibid.; TJWC.