Protandrena (Andinopanurgus) maximina Gonzalez & Ruz

Gonzalez, Victor H., Engel, Michael S. & Sepúlveda, Paula A., 2013, Taxonomic and biological notes on Andinopanurgus (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), Journal of Melittology 2013 (3), pp. 1-10 : 3-6

Protandrena (Andinopanurgus) maximina Gonzalez & Ruz

( Figs. 1–7 )

Protandrena maximina Gonzalez & Ruz, 2007: 399 [♀].

Rhophitulus maximina (Gonzalez & Ruz) ; Ascher & Pickering, 2012 [unjustified combination]. Andinopanurgus maximina (Gonzalez & Ruz) ; Moure et al., 2012 [unjustified combination].

DIAGNOSIS: Both sexes of this species are similar to those of P. rangeli in the unmodified antennal flagellum, shape of the female SVI, and male SV with a row of spines on the midapical margin. In addition to the geographical separation ( P. maximina occurs in Venezuela whereas P. rangeli in Colombia), P. maximina can be recognized easily by its larger size (head width ~ 1.8 mm and body length 6.8 mm in P. maximina vs. head width 1.6–1.7 mm and body length 5.7–6.1 mm in P. rangeli ) and slightly broader female facial fovea. The male of P. maximina also differs from that of P. rangeli in the digitus of the volsellae, which is more elongate, the distal portion of the gonocoxite, near the articulation with the gonostylus, which is more protuberant in lateral view, and in the medial margin of the gonocoxite dorsally, which is strong, nearly carinate, forming a distinct apical lobe ( Figs. 5–7 ).

DESCRIPTION: ♂: Total body length 6.8 mm; forewing length 5.3 mm. Head 1.2x wider than long, width 1.8 mm; inner orbits of compound eyes converging below ( Fig. 2 ); intertorular distance 2.1x OD, 0.9x length of torulorbital distance; torulus diameter equal to OD; ocellocular distance 3.2x OD, 2.1x greater than ocelloccipital distance; interocellar distance 1.2x OD; compound eye 1.9x longer than wide; clypeus 2.3x broader than long, projecting about 0.3x compound eye width in lateral view; gena 0.9x width of compound eye in profile; supraclypeal area, just below inferior torular tangent, distinctly protuberant; inner subantennal sulcus about 0.7x length of outer subantennal sulcus; facial fovea about 4.0x longer than broad, about half length of scape; scape 2.3x longer than broad, antennal flagellum unmodified, slightly longer than head width ( Figs. 1, 2 ); pedicel about half length of F1, slightly longer than broad, F1 1.8x longer than broad, about 2.2x longer than F2 and F3 individually, remaining flagellomeres about as long as broad, except last flagellomere longer than broad. Forewing prestigma 2.3x longer than broad (prestigma width measured to its margin); pterostigma 3.6x longer than broad. Mesosoma narrower than head width; mesoscutum 1.3x wider than long, 2.8x longer than mesoscutellum, 5.1x longer than metanotum; propodeum with basal part about 0.6x mesoscutellum length in dorsal view; protibial spur with apical portion of rachis long, about three-fourths of malus, with distinct row of about 10 elongate branches (not including apical portion of rachis); mesotibial spur straight or nearly so, with coarse branches, slightly less than one-half mesobasitarsus length; metatibia with posterior marginal carina weakly toothed on upper half; metatibial spurs slightly curved apically, inner spur slightly longer than the outer; pretarsal claws with inner ramus slightly shorter than the outer. Lateral fovea of TII ellipsoid, about 2.4x longer than broad; TVII with V-shaped median emargination on distal margin; SV and S6 as in P. rangeli (cf. Gonzalez & Ruz, 2007: figs. 11, 15), SVII, SVIII, and genital capsule as in figures 3–7.

Color dark reddish brown to black, except clypeus with yellow maculation as in figure 2. Wing membranes brownish, veins and pterostigma dark brown.

Head with sparse, long (2.3–2.5x OD), semierect, poorly-branched, dark brown to black setae except whitish setae on gena posteriorly and hypostomal area; scape with long setae, 2x as long as maximum scape diameter, pedicel with setae as long as its maximum diameter. Pronotum with short (0.5–1.0x OD), dense, whitish setae along dorsal margin and pronotal lobe; mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, and metanotum with two types of setae: sparse, long (2.3–2.7x OD), erect, poorly-branched, black setae, and short (0.5x OD), denser (especially on metanotum), brownish setae; mesepisternum and lateral and posterior areas of propodeum with sparse, long (1.5–2.7x OD), erect, branched, whitish setae; legs with setae mostly whitish except brownish on tibiae and tarsi, longer and denser on coxae, trochanters, and profemur. Metasomal terga with minute (≤ 0.3x OD), semierect, sparse ferruginous setae on discs, laterally with denser and longer setae (1.2–1.4x OD); TVI with long (1.3–1.5x OD), semierect, dark brown setae on disc, setae denser on TVII; sterna with sparse, whitish semierect setae on discs, denser and longer laterally .

Outer surface of mandible and basal area of labrum smooth and shiny, impunctate; clypeus with sparse (1–1.5x PW), faint punctures, integument between punctures imbricate; supraclypeal area with scattered punctures laterally, weakly imbricate; subantennal area and inferior paraocular area with punctures separated by a puncture width or less, integument strongly imbricate to nearly granular (as on remainder of face); remaining areas of face with coarse punctures, contiguous, smaller than on clypeus; gena strongly imbricate with faint punctures. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, and metanotum with small, dense punctures (≤ 1x PW), integument granular between punctures; mesepisternum strongly imbricate with large, scattered (1–2.0x PW), faint punctures, punctures coarser and denser dorsally; metepisternum transversely striate near wing base, otherwise strongly imbricate. Propodeum strongly imbricate with fine and weak striae basally, lateral and posterior surfaces with faint, scattered punctures. Metasomal terga and sterna shiny, weakly imbricate with minute, scattered punctures on discs, punctures coarser and denser on TVII; distal margins of terga shiny, weakly imbricate, impunctate except on TVII.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Venezuela: 2♂♂, 1♀, Mérida, 15k. E. Jaji, Ruta 4, 24-July- 1988, C. Porter & L. Stange, cloud forest ( FSCA, SEMC) .

COMMENTS: This species was previously only known from the female sex.

Figures

Figures 1–7. Male of Protandrena (Andinopanurgus) maximina Gonzalez & Ruz. 1. Lateral habitus. 2. Facial view. 3. Sternum VII. 4. Sternum VIII. 5–7. Genital capsule in dorsal, profile, and ventral views.