Andrena (Hoplandrena) darha, 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 : 45-48

Andrena (Hoplandrena) darha sp. nov.

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Fig. 27

Diagnosis

Andrena darha sp. nov. can be recognised as part of the subgenus Hoplandrena through the combination of the elongate A3, which exceeds the length of A4+5 ( Fig. 27B–C ), the weak lateral fold on the pronotum, the elongate body shape, and the broad and finely delineated propodeal triangle, with a finely microreticulate internal surface ( Fig. 27D ). It is closest to Andrena ferulae Pérez, 1895 , which is known from coastal parts of Algeria and Tunisia ( Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002). Andrena darha differs by (alternative character state in parentheses) the predominantly light brown facial pubescence ( Fig. 27B ; entirely dark), the weakly domed and evenly punctate clypeus (clypeus strongly domed and impunctate), the internal surface of the propodeal triangle being evenly and finely microreticulate over its entire area (internal surface of the propodeal triangle medially with raised rugosity, with strongly contrasting lateral parts), whitish tergal hairbands ( Fig. 27E–F ; tergal hairbands dark orange-brown), and dark brown terminal fringe ( Fig. 27E ; terminal fringe black). It is important to note, however, that this species did not fall close to other species of Hoplandrena based on the COI gene. The closest match was A. (Lepidandrena) impasta Warncke, 1975 (ANDPH027-21, 88.44%), which is morphologically unrelated. Andrena darha and A. ferulae may represent a distinct and unrecognised lineage, but additional genetic analysis is required to establish this. No sequences are currently available for A. ferulae . For now, both species are retained in the subgenus Hoplandrena for consistency with existing concepts.

Additionally, A. darha sp. nov. is superficially similar to A. (? Euandrena ) ramosa Wood, 2022 from south-western Spain due to its similar body shape, colouration, and the presence of plumose, light brown hairs on the mesepisternum, propodeal corbicula, and flocculus. However, these hairs are only weakly plumose in A. darha , whereas they are strongly and conspicuously plumose in A. ramosa . Andrena darha can also be separated (alternative character state in parentheses) by the presence of a humeral angle (pronotum rounded), by the broad foveae (foveae occupying at most ⅓ of the distance between the lateral ocellus and the compound eye), A4 clearly longer than broad (A4 quadrate), and the trapezoidal process of the labrum (process of the labrum broad, at least three times as broad as long).

Etymology

Named after the Draa River (Drâa, or Asif en Dra) that is the longest river in Morocco. The spelling is taken from older texts that often use ‘Darha’ to refer to this river. It is a noun in apposition.

Material examined

Holotype

MOROCCO • ♀; Drâa-Tafilalet , Ouarzazate , P1507, 3 km SSE of Irhels; 30.6993° N, 7.0721° W; 12 Apr. 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; BOLD: WPATW689-22 ; OÖLM.

Paratypes

MOROCCO • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; OÖLM • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; TJWC • 1 ♀; 50 km SW of Akka ; 27 Mar. 1986; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 2 ♀♀; Uarz. [Ouarzazate] Tinezouline; 800 m a.s.l.; 9 Mar. 1988; V. Lefeber leg.; RMNH • 2 ♀♀; Valée du Draa, Tizouline ; 9 Mar. 1988; H. Teunissen leg.; RMNH .

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Body length: 10–11 mm ( Fig. 27A ).

HEAD. Dark, 1.25 times as wide as long ( Fig. 27B ). Clypeus weakly and evenly domed, regularly punctate, punctures separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameter, with obscure, impunctate longitudinal midline; underlying surface laterally and basally shagreened and dull, sculpture becoming weaker medially and apically, here smooth and shining. Process of labrum trapezoidal, 2 times as broad as long, apical margin obscurely emarginate, surface shining. Gena slightly exceeding width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance equalling 1 diameter of lateral ocellus. Foveae broad, poorly and obscurely defined, occupying 60% of space between lateral ocellus and compound eye, slightly narrowing ventrally at level of antennal insertions; foveae filled with dark brown hairs. Face medially and gena ventrally and laterally with pale to light brown hairs, becoming intermixed with dark brown to black hairs on vertex, frons, and surrounding antennal insertions. Antennae dark, A4–12 ventrally obscurely lightened dark brown; A3 exceeding length of A4+5, shorter than A4+5+6; segments A4–12 all clearly longer than broad ( Fig. 27C ).

MESOSOMA. Scutum with fine granular shagreen, obscurely shining, with shallow, obscure, and scattered punctures, punctures separated by 2–3 puncture diameters; scutellum with weaker shagreen, more strongly shining; punctures more visible, separated by 1–2 puncture diameters. Pronotum with weak but distinct humeral angle. Mesepisternum with fine granular microreticulation; dorsolateral parts of propodeum with slightly stronger granular microreticulation; microreticulation overlain with additional network of weakly raised reticulation resembling large punctures; pseudopunctures separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameter. Propodeal triangle without lateral carinae, surface with fine granular shagreen, weakly shining, thus defined by and contrasting sculpture of dorsolateral parts of propodeum ( Fig. 27D ). Mesepisternum laterally with long, light brown plumose hairs, not exceeding length of scape; scutum, scutellum, and propodeum with shorter and darker brown hairs. Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsal fringe composed of finely plumose light brown hairs, internal surface with long, light brown simple hairs. Legs dark, pubescence dark brown; flocculus and femoral scopa whitish, flocculus incomplete, but distinctly produced, composed of finely plumose hairs; femoral scopa composed of simple hairs. Tibial scopa composed of simple hairs, dorsally dark brown to black, ventrally becoming white. Hind tarsal claws with strong inner tooth. Wings weakly infumate, surface with obscure brownish colouration; stigma dark orange, venation dark orange to dark brown; nervulus interstitial.

METASOMA. Terga dark, apical rim of marginal zones narrowly lightened hyaline-brown ( Fig. 27E ). Tergal discs with uniform granular shagreen, obscurely shining, with small, obscure, and scattered hairbearing punctures, punctures separated by 2–3 puncture diameters. T2–4 with weak apical fringes of brownish hairs forming complete hairbands ( Fig. 27F ). Apical fringe of T5 and hairs flanking pygidial plate dark brown, pygidial plate with obscurely thickened margin, internal surface flat, medially densely punctate, puncture separated by 0.5 puncture diameter.

Male

Unknown.

Remarks

The four specimens from RMNH were misidentified as A. ferulae by H. Teunissen. All specimens come from arid semi-desert in the Draa Valley south of the High Atlas Mountains, whereas A. ferulae is known from humid Mediterranean areas. At the Irhels site, specimens were observed visiting yellow Brassicaceae , and all pollen removed from the scopae of two females consisted of Brassicaceae pollen. Pollen specialisation is uncommon in the subgenus Hoplandrena , so further study is required; it is too soon to assign a dietary classification. Based on the observed dates of capture, it can be presumed that males fly in February, given their absence in collected material; the species is likely endemic to southern Morocco.

Distribution

Southern Morocco in the Drâa Valley.

Figures

Fig. 27. Andrena (Hoplandrena) darha sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (OÖLM). A. Lateral habitus. B. Face, frontal view. C. Antennae, frontal view. D. Propodeum, dorsal view. E. Terga, dorsal view. F. Terga detail, dorsal view.