Liphanthus amblayensis Mir Sharifi and Packer, 2019

Sharifi, Negar Mir, Graham, Liam & Packer, Laurence, 2019, Fifteen new species of Liphanthus Reed (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) with two submarginal cells, Zootaxa 4645 (1), pp. 1-80 : 42-46

Liphanthus amblayensis Mir Sharifi and Packer , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:358917CB-3833-4CFE-93BF-8989C68F9113

Figs. 90–98 , 149, 151 , 158 , 161–162 , 206 .

Diagnosis: Males of this species can be differentiated from all the others of the genus except L. abotorabi by the combination of two submarginal cells, pronotal lobe black, metatibial spurs straight, S7 hairless ( Fig. 92 ). Males can be differentiated from L. abotorabi by the base of the gonostylus short and indistinctly separated from the gonocoxa ( Fig. 94 ), whereas in L. abotorabi the base of the gonostylus is clearly narrowed compared to the adjacent part of the gonocoxa ( Fig. 67 ). Females of this species can be differentiated from all others except L. fritzi by the combination of two submarginal cells, pronotal lobe black, metatibial spurs straight, mesoscutum and scutellum with distinct but weak imbrication, somewhat shiny ( Fig. 98 ). Females can be differentiated from those of L. fritzi by facial fovea more than 5.5 X as long as wide ( Fig. 97 ) whereas in L. fritzi it is ~ 4X as long as wide ( Fig. 88 ).

Description: Holotype Male: Dimensions: Approximate body length: 5.19mm; head width: 1.52mm; wing length not measurable due to frayed apex; intertegular width: 0.84mm.

Coloration: Black to dark brown with following parts yellow: mandible (brown at the base, apex reddish), apical 2/3 of clypeus.

Sculpture: Clypeus, lower paraocular and subantennal sclerite moderately imbricate, somewhat shiny; rest of face strongly imbricate, dull; disc of clypeus punctures large, sparse, i>2d, apicolaterally moderately sparsely punc- tate, i=1.5–2d; lower paraocular area moderately densely punctate close to compound eye, i=1–1.5d, rest sparsely punctate, i>2d; upper paraocular, frontal and vertexal areas densely punctate, i<d, vertexal area punctures deep; genal and hypostomal areas weakly imbricate, shiny, moderately densely punctate close to compound eye, i=1–1.5d; rest with punctures large, sparse, i>2d. Mesosoma strongly imbricate, dull; mesoscutum, scutellum and metanotum punctures dense, i<d, scutellum punctures deep, large, metanotum punctures shallow; hypoepimeral area and posterior of mesopleuron moderately sparsely punctate, i=1.5–2d, mesopleuron anteriorly moderately densely punctate, i=1–1.5d; metapleuron impunctate; metapostnotum dorsal surface with weak longitudinal striae, not attaining posterior margin. Metasomal terga weakly imbricate, shiny; T1–T2 moderately densely punctate, i=1–1.5d; T3 punctures small, moderately sparsely punctate, i=1.5–2d; T4–T5 with scattered small punctures, T6 punctures larger, i=1–2d except absent apicomedially; apical impressed areas minutely and densely punctate on T1, punctures increasingly shallow on successive terga, merely imbricate on T4–T6. Metasomal sterna moderately imbricate, somewhat shiny; S1 punctures large, shallow, sparse, i>2d; S2 punctures variable in size and spacing; S3–S5 sparsely punctate anteriorly, i>2d, moderately sparsely punctate posteriorly, i=1.5–2d.

Pubescence: Generally white, sparse and mostly simple; ~1.5 MOD on apical margin of clypeus, scape, lower half of lower subantennal sclerite close to compound eye; <1 MOD on upper half of lower paraocular area; ~1 MOD on vertexal and genal areas and mesopleuron. Branched, ~ 1–1.5 MOD on lateral areas of scutellum and propodeum; <1 MOD on pronotum, posteriorly on mesoscutum, anteriorly on metanotum and laterally on dorsal surface of metapostnotum. Metatibia with long, fine apicodorsally oriented hairs, <3.8 MOD; metabasitarsus with dense pale brown hairs basoventrally, <1.3 MOD.

Structure: Head: ~ 1.15 X as wide as long (73: 64). Mandible 3.2 X as long as basal depth (61:19); narrowing towards acute apex. Labrum rectangular, ~ 2 X as broad as long (33:16). Clypeus 1.8 X as wide as long (58:32); apicolateral margin weakly convex in frontal view, straight apicomedially. Inner and outer subantennal sutures almost straight, weakly convergent below; epistomal suture weakly curved between inner subantennal sutures. Frontal line indistinct. IAD> AOD (17:15). Inner margin of compound eyes convergent below, UOD:LOD 86:60. Facial fovea linear, length to width: 13:3. IOC < OOC 14: 25. Scape 2.7 X as long as greatest width (29:13), longer than pedicel and F1 combined (24); pedicel length subequal to width (10:11), F1 longer than wide (14:12); F2 shorter than wide (9:11), remaining flagellomeres slightly wider than long or subequal except F11 1.7 X as long as width (19:11).

Mesosoma: Mesoscutum ~1.3 X as wide as long (63:50); length of scutellum:metanotum:metapostnotum: 23:15:10. Metatibial spurs robust and straight, posterior somewhat longer than anterior spur. Pro- and mesotarsal claws briefly narrowly cleft [metatarsomeres missing in sole male specimen.]

Metasoma. Broadest at midlength of T2; terga not strongly ventromedially reflexed towards sides; pygidial plate absent; S1–S4 unmodified, S5 with sparse fringe of apicomedially oriented hairs < MOD; S6 apicomedially translucent with broadly U-shaped concavity, patch of punctures on each side, i<2d, giving rise to apicomedially oriented hairs, distance between patches almost as wide as a patch. S7. Apodeme broad and moderately long, anterior margin obtuse, anterior margin straight; apical lobe reduced to short, broad margin to disc, lacking hairs. S8. Anterior margin of apodeme weakly concave, anterior portion subtriangular, broader than long; lateral lobe large, broadly rounded; lateral margins almost straight converging toward rounded apical lobe, short hair on apical lobe posteriorly; entire structure somewhat arrow-head shaped. Gonocoxa anterodorsally weakly convex, lateral margins straight towards base convergent towards base of gonostylus, medial margin approximately straight; gonostylus fused to gonocoxa, as long as wide, apex truncate, with long sparse posteriorly oriented hairs, longest medially, with denser shorter ventrally oriented hairs; penis valve moderately broad, sinuate towards narrow apex, with posterolaterally oriented hairs. Endophallus not elaborated.

Allotype Female: As in male except for usual sexually dimorphic features as follows:

Dimensions: Approximate body length: 5.88mm; head width: 1.79mm, wing length: 3.94mm, intertegular width: 1.05mm.

Coloration: Black to dark brown except red brown as follows: mandible (except base black) and pygidial plate.

Sculpture: Face moderately imbricate, somewhat shiny; disc of clypeus punctures variable in size and spacing, i=1–2d. Mesosoma moderately imbricate, somewhat shiny, metanotum punctures large and distinct; hypoepimeral area, mesopleuron and metapleuron obscurely and sparsely punctate; i=1.5–2d. T2 punctures moderately small, moderately dense, i=1.5–2d; T3–T4 punctures small, sparse, i>2d; T5 moderately sparsely punctate anteriorly, i=1- 1.5d; punctures larger moderately dense posteriorly, i=1.5–2d; S2–S5 sparsely punctate anterolaterally, i>2d, moderately sparsely punctate posteriorly, i=1.5–2d.

Pubescence: Longest on tibial scopa ~2 MOD; ~1.5 MOD on apicomedial margin of clypeus; 1–1.5 MOD on apicolateral margin of clypeus, lower paraocular and genal areas. Brown, branched hairs ~1.5 MOD on posterior surface of T5, T6 and posterior surfaces of S1–S6. Brown, simple hair ~1.5 MOD on vertexal area. Branched, white hairs <1MOD–1.5 MOD on pronotum.

Structure: Head: 1.25 X as wide as long (70:56). Mandible 2.4 X as long as basal depth (65:26). Labrum rectangular, 1.1 X as broad as long (29:26). Clypeus 1.7 X as wide as long (68:40). Outer subantennal suture straight; epistomal suture straight between inner subantennal sutures. Frontal line distinct. IAD<AOD (22:27). Facial fovea: 28:4. Inner margin of compound eyes convergent below, UOD:LOD 72:66. IOC < OOC 19:28.

Mesosoma: Length of scutellum: metanotum: metapostnotum: 20:14:15. Marginal cell 0.85 X as long as distance between its apex to wing tip (65:75). Tarsal claws with long teeth, broader on protarsus.

Metasoma. Broadest at midlength of T3; pygidial plate triangular, sides straight, forming angle of ~60°, apex moderately rounded, raised through entire surface to apex.

Material studied. Holotype male, allotype female and one paratype of each sex as follows: ARGENTINA, Salta: Amblayo, 22.iii.1990, J. G. Rozen & A. Roig, holotype and allotype; ARGENTINA, Tucuman: Los Cardones, 19km SE of Amaicha, S26.40.301 W065.49.062 (-26.671687 -65.817699), 2765m, 18.ii. (20)02, L. Packer, paratype male. ARGENTINA, Catamarca, Sierra de Ambato , 2700’, 28˚48.60’ S 66˚24.28’W, 6.ix.1999, MT in dry wash, M.E. Irwin & F.D. Parker, paratype female. The first two specimens are at the AMNH, the last two at PCYU although the last will be returned to BBSL pending completion of ongoing research.

Etymology. This species is named after the type locality.

Comments. The holotype male has the forewings heavily abraded; the allotype female has both antennae missing.

The three localities for this species are separated by less than 350km and are approximately in a straight line along the eastern slopes of the Sierra del Aconquija.

Figures

FIGURES 90–94. Liphanthus amblayensis sp. nov., holotype male: 90: lateral habitus, 91: face, frontal view, 92: S7, 93: S8, 94: genital capsule. Scale bars Figs. 99–100 1mm, Figs. 92–94 0.25mm.

FIGURES 95–98. Liphanthus amblayensis sp. nov., allotype female. 95: lateral habitus, 96: face, frontal view, 97: frontal area to show relative length (red line) to width (blue line) of facial fovea, 98: mesosoma, dorsal view, to show surface sculpture Scale bars Figs. 95–96 & 98 1mm, Fig. 97 0.5mm.

FIGURES 148–152. 148: L. ancashensis metasoma, dorsal view to show mostly orange-red colour, 149: L. amblayensis metasoma dorsal view to show dark colour, 150: L. ancashensis to show extensive pale markings on metatibia, lack of very long hairs apicodorsally on metatibia (line at bottom right is 2MOD) and absence of brush of hairs basoventrally on metabasitarsus (red arrow), 151 & 152: L. amblayensis and L. cochabambensis respectively to show absence of pale markings on metatibia, presence of very long apicodorsal hairs (lines at bottom right are 3MOD) and presence of brush of hairs basoventrally on metabasitarsus (red arrows). Scale bars Figs. 148–149 1mm, Figs. 150–152 0.5mm.

FIGURES 157–158. Liphanthus sp. head, ftontal view, 157: L. abotorabi to show extensive brown marking on clypeus, 158: L. amblayensis to show less extensive brown marking on clypeus. Scale bars 0.5mm.

FIGURES 159–162. 159: L. cochabambensis face frontal view to show narrow brown mark not more extensive medially at base of clypeus and strongly curved inner subantennal suture making subantennal sclerite widest below midlength (red line), 160: L. cochabambensis metatibia to show long, thick, distally curved apicodorsal hairs, 161: L. amblayensis face frontal view to show brown clypeal mark more extensive medially and weakly curved inner subantennal suture making subantennal sclerite slightly wider above midlength (red line), 162: L. amblayensis holotype metatibia to show long, fine, straight apicodorsal hairs. Scale bars 0.5mm.

FIGURES205–206. Scutellumtoshow differencesinmicrosculpture:205 L.cochabambensis:toshow absenceofmicrosculpture, 206: L. amblayensis. to show presence of microsculpture. Scale bars 0.5mm.

FIGURES 62–67: Liphanthus abotorabi sp. nov., paratype male, unless stated otherwise: 62: lateral habitus, 63: face, frontal view, 64: holotype male, face, frontal view, 65: S7, 66: S8, 67, genital capsule. Scale bars Figs. 62–64 1mm, Figs. 65–67 0.25mm.

FIGURES 86–89. Liphanthus fritzi sp. nov., allotype female: 86: lateral habitus, 87: face, frontal view, 88: frontal area to show facial fovea, length in red, width in blue lines, 89: mesosoma, dorsal view, to show surface sculpture. Scale bars Figs. 86–87 & 89 1mm, Fig. 88 100μm.