Andrena (Euandrena) abscondita, 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 : 40-43

Andrena (Euandrena) abscondita sp. nov.

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Fig. 25

Diagnosis

Andrena abscondita 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 narrows further ventrally, combined with the long A3 ( Fig. 25B ; slightly exceeding length of A4+5) and the almost simple, non-plumose hairs of the tibial scopae. Due to its black and orange colouration ( Fig. 25A ), it resembles A. berberica sp. nov. (south-western Morocco; see the diagnosis section of that species), A. bicolor , and A. isolata (Sierra Nevada, Spain). A diagnosis against A. berberica is given below; A. abscondita is much closer morphologically to A. bicolor and A. isolata . Andrena abscondita can be separated from A. bicolor by the punctation of the clypeus; in A. abscondita , the clypeus is densely punctate, the punctures are separated by <0.5 puncture diameter and the underlying surface is dull to weakly shining on the interspaces themselves ( Fig. 25B ). In A. bicolor the clypeus is less densely punctate, punctures separated by 0.5–1.5 puncture diameters medially, with the underlying surface more clearly smooth and shining. Separation from A. isolata is challenging morphologically, and the collecting locality should inform identification. Both species have the clypeus equally densely punctate, but the interspaces in A. isolata are more clearly shining than in A. abscondita . Additionally, A. abscondita has an impressed medial longitudinal line on the apical half of the clypeus (cf A. angustior ( Kirby, 1802)) that is absent in A. isolata . Genetically and geographically, the two taxa are well separated and are considered to be valid species. Discovery of their respective males may provide additional diagnostic characters.

Etymology

The name comes from the feminine form of the Latin adjective ‘ absconditus ’ which means ‘covert/ secret/hidden’, in reference to its cryptic nature and similarity to A. bicolor .

Material examined

Holotype

MOROCCO • ♀; Fès-Meknès , Tiguelmamine, Col du Zad ; 2100 m a.s.l.; 33.0614° N, 5.0382° W; 21 May 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; BOLD: WPATW387-22 ; OÖLM.

Paratypes

MOROCCO • 1 ♀; Afourer , 200 km S of Rabat ; 1330 m a.s.l.; 10 May 2015; Mucska leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Fès-Meknès , Laanoucer; 15–16 May 2018; P.Lhomme and O. Ihsane leg.; TJWC • 1 ♀; Oukaimeden ; 2620 m a.s.l.; 13 May 2015; V. Soon leg.; TUZ .

TUNISIA • 1 ♀; Kef, 5 km W of Touiref ; 28 Apr. 2012; C. Praz leg.; PRUN .

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 9–10 mm ( Fig. 25A ).

HEAD. Dark, 1.2 times as wide as long ( Fig. 25B ). Clypeus weakly domed, densely punctate, punctures separated by <0.5 puncture diameter, underlying surface shagreened and dull, at most with interspaces weakly shining apically. Clypeus with impressed medial longitudinal line on apical half. Process of labrum trapezoidal, 2 times as broad as long, surface with weak latitudinal striations. Gena broad, 1.2 times as broad as width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance equalling 1 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, gena, frons, and scape with black hairs, vertex with intermixed black and light brown hairs. Antennae dark, A3 exceeding length of A4+5, shorter than A4+5+6.

MESOSOMA. Scutum and scutellum with fine granular microreticulation, somewhat dull laterally and anteriorly, weakly shining medially; underlying surface clearly and densely punctate, punctures separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameter. Pronotum rounded. Mesepisternum with strong microreticulation, dull. 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 ½ with network of short but distinctly raised rugae ( Fig. 25D ). Mesepisternum covered with long and abundant black hairs, at most with occasional light brown hair dorsally; scutum and scutellum with shorter, light reddish-brown hairs ( Fig. 25C ). Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsal fringe composed of long, strongly plumose hairs, anteriorly black, becoming light brown posteriorly; internal surface with long, very weakly plumose pale hairs. Legs dark, pubescence dark brown to black; flocculus incomplete, flocculus and femoral scopa composed of plumose, light brown to orangeish hairs. Tibial scopa composed of very weakly plumose orange hairs. Hind tarsal claws with inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma and venation dark brown, nervulus interstitial.

METASOMA.Terga dark, marginal areas at most with apical rim extremely obscurely and narrowly lightened hyaline ( Fig. 25E ). Tergal discs with weak and irregular shagreen, more or less shining, irregularly punctate, punctures separated by 0.5–2 puncture diameters. Discs of T1–2 with sparse, upstanding light brown hairs, these continuing onto marginal area of T2, forming long and weak apical fringe. T3 almost entirely dark-haired, with scattered light brown hairs overlying marginal area; T4 entirely black-haired. Sterna with long, upstanding apical hair fringes of black plumose hairs, not obscuring underlying surface ( Fig. 25F ). Apical fringe of T5 and hairs flanking pygidial plate black; pygidial plate rounded triangular, margin clearly raised, internal surface weakly domed, with large granular microreticulation, weakly shining.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Morocco (High and Middle Atlas) and northern Tunisia.

Figures

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.