Pseudoanthidium variabile (Pasteels, 1980)

Kasparek, Max, 2024, New species, new synonyms, and resurrected taxa: A review of West and Central Palaearctic members of the genus Pseudoanthidium (Apoidea: Megachilidae), Zootaxa 5541 (1), pp. 1-50 : 31-33

Pseudoanthidium variabile (Pasteels, 1980)

( Figs 17 , 20 , 22 )

Royanthidium variabile Pasteels, 1980 .— Oman, female

Pseudoanthidium (Royanthidium) variabile Pasteels, 1980 .— Michener & Griswold (1994).

Material examined. OMAN: ♀ holotype, Dhofar Ayun Pools (17.22°N, 53.90°E), 10.x.1977, K. M. Guichard leg. ( NHMUK, B.M. Type Hym 17a.3169) .— OMAN: 1♀ paratype, same data as holotype ( NHMUK) .

Other material. 2♀ (incl. one paratype), Qara Hills North Slope [N of Salalah, exact location not identified] (c. 17.38°N, 54.05°E), 22.x.1977, K. M. Guichard leg. ( RBINS) (Pasteels 1980).

Genetic barcode information. No information available.

Description: Female ( Fig. 19 ). 7 mm. Colouration of maculations on the terga variable, ranging from redorange (type) to golden yellow.— Head: Paraocular area, clypeus, preoccipital region, and gena orange; anterior edge of clypeus almost straight, with subapical region depressed; apical ridge brown, with five tubercles ( Fig. 20 ); mandible yellow to orange-brown, featuring six more or less equally strong black teeth; postocello-preoccipital distance equal to interocellar distance.— Mesosoma : Scutum with narrow orange anterolateral stripe; axilla and a broad band on posterior scutellum orange; scutellum and axillae crescent-shaped in dorsal view, without a median emargination.— Metasoma: T1–T6 orange with a black median wedge; tergal punctation noticeable finer than on scutum; T6 inversely trapezoid in dorsal view with median bilobed projection ( Figs 18c , 22 ); apical margin dark; scopa black with lighter hairs at the margin.— Legs: Trochanters and basal tibiae black; legs otherwise orange; orange bristles on inner face of hind basitarsus.— Wing: Brown infuscated, especially apically.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Only known from Oman ( Fig. 27a ).

Figures

FIGURE 17. Pseudoanthidium syriacum Kasparek sp. nov. Female from Syria. a. Habitus dorsal; b. Habitus lateral; c. Apical terga.

FIGURE 18. Pseudoanthidium tajikistanicum Kasparek sp. nov. Female from Tajikistan. a. Habitus dorsal; b. Habitus lateral; c. Scutellum and axillae.

FIGURE 19. Pseudoanthidium variabile (Pasteels, 1980). Female holotype from Oman. a. Habitus dorsal; b. Habitus lateral; c. Metasomal terga.

FIGURE 20. Face of the female of Palaearctic species of Pseudoanthidium (continued on the following page).

FIGURE 22. Apical terga of females of Palaearctic Pseudoanthidium species.

FIGURE 27. Distribution of selected species of Pseudoanthidium. a. Pseudoanthidium bytinskii, P. puncticolle, P. syriacum sp. nov., and P. variabile; b. Pseudoanthidium farsiense sp. nov., P. moricei, and P. rhombiferum.