Andrena (Euandrena) berberica, Wood, 2023

Wood, Thomas James, 2023, Revisions to the Andrena fauna of north-western Africa with a focus on Morocco (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 916 (1), pp. 1-85 : 43-45

Andrena (Euandrena) berberica sp. nov.

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Fig. 26

Diagnosis

Andrena berberica sp. nov. can be recognised as a member of Euandrena due to the narrow facial fovea (dorsally occupying ⅓ of space between the lateral ocellus and the compound eye) which narrow further ventrally combined with the long A3 ( Fig. 26B ; slightly exceeding length of A4+5) and the simple, non-plumose hairs of the tibial scopae ( Fig. 26D ). Due to its black and orange colouration, it resembles A. abscondita sp. nov. and A. bicolor . It can be separated from both of these species (alternative character state in parentheses) by the light brown hairs on the sterna ( Fig. 26F ; sterna with black hairs, Fig. 25F ), the face with abundant light brown hairs medially ( Fig. 26B ; face almost entirely black haired, Fig. 25B ), by the tergal margins with their apical rim clearly but distinctly lightened hyaline-yellow ( Fig. 26E ; tergal margins dark, Fig. 25E ), T3–5 with narrow apical hairbands of yellowish hairs ( Fig. 26E ; terga with dark apical hairbands on T3–5, at most with weak light brown fringes on T2, Fig. 25E ) and by the presence of abundant short black hairs on the scutum, underlying the longer, light reddish-brown hairs ( Fig. 26C ; scutum at most with scattered black hairs, Fig. 25C ). Additionally, A. berberica can be separated from A. abscondita by the clypeus, which has punctures clearly separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameter, with the underlying surface smooth and shining (in A. abscondita with the clypeus densely punctate, punctures almost confluent, underlying surface dull to weakly shining, Fig. 25B ).

Etymology

This species is named after the Berber people who populate the Atlas Mountains. It is a noun in apposition.

Material examined

Holotype

MOROCCO • ♀; Souss-Massa , Tafraoute, Iguissle (3 km E of Tanalt ); 1500 m a.s.l.; 29.7730° N, 9.1233° W; 21 Mar. 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; BOLD: WPATW396-22 ; OÖLM.

Paratypes

MOROCCO • 1 ♀; Guelmim-Oued Noun , Guelmim, 5 km S of Aferkat ; 700 m a.s.l.; 18 Mar. 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 1 ♀; Anti Atlas, 15 km N of Irherm ; 6 Apr. 1983; G.R. Else leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Oukaimeden ; 2670 m a.s.l.; 13 May 2015; V. Soon leg.; TUZ .

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 9 mm ( Fig. 26A ).

HEAD. Dark, 1.2 times as wide as long ( Fig. 26B ). Clypeus weakly domed, regularly punctate, punctures separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameter, underlying surface smooth and shining. Process of labrum trapezoidal, 2 times as broad as long. Gena 1.1 times as broad as width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance subequal to diameter of lateral ocellus. Foveae narrow, occupying ⅓ of space between lateral ocellus and compound eye, narrowing further ventrally at level of antennal insertions; foveae filled with dark brown hairs. Face and frons predominantly with black hairs, medially around antennal insertions and on supraclypeal plate with abundant intermixed light brown hairs. Gena ventrally with whitish hairs, becoming light brown dorsally and on vertex. Antennae dark, A3 exceeding length of A4+5, shorter than A4+5+6.

MESOSOMA. Scutum and scutellum with fine granular shagreen, somewhat dull laterally and anteriorly, weakly shining medially; underlying surface shallowly punctate, punctures separated by 0.5–2 puncture diameters. Pronotum rounded. Mesepisternum with fine granular shagreen, weakly shining. Dorsolateral parts of propodeum with granular microreticulation; microreticulation overlain with additional network of weakly raised reticulation, forming network resembling large punctures; pseudopunctures separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameter. Propodeal triangle narrow, slightly impressed and recessed below level of dorsolateral parts of propodeum; surface with fine granular shagreen, on basal ⅓ with network of short, but distinctly raised rugae. Mesepisternum with mixture of long black and light brown hairs, longest equalling length of scape; scutum and scutellum with shorter light brown hairs, scutum with intermixed and contrasting shorter black hairs ( Fig. 26C ). Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsal fringe composed of long, strongly plumose hairs, predominantly light brown with occasional intermixed black hairs; internal surface with long, weakly plumose, pale hairs. Legs predominantly dark, hind tibiae partially and hind basitarsi entirely lightened orange ( Fig. 26D ). Flocculus incomplete, composed of plumose hairs, flocculus and femoral scopa with orange hairs. Tibial scopa predominantly composed of simple orange hairs, hairs dorsally with apices darkened. Hind tarsal claws with strong inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma and venation dark brown, nervulus interstitial.

METASOMA. Terga dark, marginal areas with apical rim clearly lightened hyaline-yellow ( Fig. 26E ). Tergal discs with fine shagreen, more or less shining, sparsely punctate, punctures separated by 2–3 puncture diameters. Discs of T1–2 with upstanding, light brown hairs, T1–4 with distinct narrow apical hair bands of light brown hairs, hair bands complete, T4–5 with dark, sparse, and erect hairs on discs. Sterna with long, upstanding apical hair fringes of light orange-brown plumose hairs, not obscuring underlying surface ( Fig. 26F ). Apical fringe of T5 and hairs flanking pygidial plate black; pygidial plate rounded triangular, margin weakly raised, internal surface flat, with granular microreticulation, weakly shining.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

South-western Morocco (Anti-Atlas) to the High Atlas (Oukaimeden).

Figures

Fig. 26. Andrena (Euandrena) berberica sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (OÖLM). A. Lateral habitus. B. Face, frontal view.C. Mesosoma, lateral view. D. Hind tibia, lateral view. E. Terga, dorsal view. F. Metasoma, latero-ventral view.

Fig. 25. Andrena (Euandrena) abscondita sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (OÖLM). A. Lateral habitus. B. Face, frontal view. C. Mesosoma, lateral view. D. Propodeum, dorsal view. E. Terga, dorsal view. F. Metasoma, latero-ventral view.