Andrena (Euandrena) scrophulariae Wood, 2020

Pisanty, Gideon, Scheuchl, Erwin, Martin, Teresa, Cardinal, Sophie & Wood, Thomas James, 2022, Twenty-five new species of mining bees (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae: Andrena) from Israel and the Levant, Zootaxa 5185 (1), pp. 1-109 : 43-45

Andrena (Euandrena) scrophulariae Wood, 2020

( Figs. 96–101 )

Male ( Fig. 99 ).

Body length: 7–9 mm.

Colour. Body and legs dark brown to black ( Fig. 99 ). Clypeus dark, with weak bluish-golden metallic luster ( Fig. 96 ). Flagellomeres 2–11 brown. Wings hyaline, veins and stigma brown ( Fig. 99 ). Tergal marginal zones yellowish ( Fig. 98 ).

Pubescence. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, scape, and area around antennal sockets with medium to long whitish hairs ( Figs. 96, 99 ). Paraocular area with short to long hair, black on outer part, white on inner part. Vertex and genal area mostly with long white hair, and with short black hair around margin of compound eye ( Figs. 96, 99 ). Scutellum, metanotum and periphery of mesonotum with medium to long, erect whitish hairs. Mesepisternum and propodeum with long white plumose hairs. Legs with white to golden, mostly short hairs ( Fig. 99 ). Tergal discs with sparse, inconspicuous minute white hairs medially, short white hairs laterally. Tergal marginal zone 1 with band of sparse, medium-lengthed, whitish plumose semi-appressed hairs, reaching mid-length of tergum 2. Tergal marginal zones 2–4 with distinct, continuous bands of short plumose white hairs, slightly protruding onto the following tergal discs. Tergal marginal zones 5–6 with sparse, long golden hairs ( Fig. 98 ).

Head ( Figs. 96–97 ). 1.1 times broader than long. Labral process large, slightly broader than long, weakly trapezoidal, basal 1/3 transversely striated to smooth, apical 2/3 smooth ( Fig. 96 ). Clypeus elongate, slightly convex, very smooth and shiny, strongly, coarsely and densely punctured, distance between punctures about 1 puncture diameter, without impunctate midline. Paraocular area densely, finely, obliquely punctured. Malar area length 0.2 times mandible width at base. Flagellomere 1 longer than 3, 2 shorter than 3. Frons longitudinally striated ( Fig. 96 ). Ocelloccipital distance 1.3 ocellus diameters. Vertex weakly carinate ( Fig. 97 ). Genal area as broad as compound eye, posterior margin not carinate.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 97 ). Dorsolateral angle of pronotum not elevated, pronotum not carinate. Mesonotum and scutellum strongly shagreened and mat, punctation coarse and sparse, very shallow and inconspicuous, distance between punctures 1–2 puncture diameters ( Fig. 97 ). Mesepisternum and anterolateral part of propodeum finely alveolate. Posterolateral part of propodeum finely alveolate, coarsely obliquely punctured. Propodeal triangle narrow, finely rugose, rugosity finer medioapically. Nervulus antefurcal ( Fig. 99 ).

Metasoma ( Fig. 98 ). Tergal discs very smooth and shiny, sparsely and very finely punctured, distance between punctures 2–3 puncture diameters. Tergal marginal zones distinctly depressed, basal part shagreened, apical part smooth.

Genitalia and hidden sterna ( Figs. 100–101 ). Dorsal gonocoxite lobes developed, broad, connected throughout. Gonostyli broadening apically, blade dorsally concave, spatulate, pointed apically. Penis valves moderately broad basally, gradually tapering apically, basal part with narrow, curved lamellar extensions ( Fig. 100 ). Sternum 8 columnar, apical part distinctly bifurcated, creating a Y shape ( Fig. 101 ).

Diagnosis. The male of A. scrophulariae is distinguished from all other Euandrena by the long, very smooth clypeus ( Fig. 96 ) and the unique shape of the genitalia ( Fig. 100 ) and Y-shaped sternum 8 ( Fig. 101 ). Andrena igraeca sp. nov. also possesses a Y-shaped sternum 8 ( Fig. 95 ), but it has a much narrower gonostylus blade ( Fig. 94 ), and a more normally built clypeus ( Fig. 91 ).

Distribution: High altitudes (above 1400 m) in Israel (Mt. Hermon, first record), Lebanon and Turkey (first record). Likely present also in Syria.

Flight period: May–June.

Flower records: Scrophulariaceae : Scrophularia spp. ( Wood et al. 2020a and new records).

Material examined: HOLOTYPE: LEBANON: Arz Tannourine Gate area, 1754 m, 20.v.2018, M. Boustani (♀) ( RBINS); non-type material: ISRAEL: Hermon Nature Reserve, Sheluhat Duvdevan , 2124 m, 33.315°N 35.797°E, 29.v.2019, A. Dorchin (2♂); Mount Hermon , 1500 m, 22.v.1990, R. Kasher, on Scrophularia (2♀); Mount Hermon , 1600 m, 27.v.1986, A. Shlagman (2♀); TURKEY: Kars, 10 km E Karakurt, 1500 m, 28.v.1983, K. Warncke (1♀); 15 km E Karakurt, 1460 m, 2.vi.1988, K. Warncke, on Scrophularia (8♀) ( OLML, SMNHTAU, TJW).

Figures

FIGURES 96–101. Andrena (Euandrena) scrophulariae Wood. 96. male head, 97. male vertex, mesonotum and scutellum, 98. male metasoma, 99. male habitus, 100. male genitalia, 101. male eighth sternum.

FIGURES 86–95. Andrena (Euandrena) igraeca sp. nov. 86. female head, 87. female vertex and mesosoma, 88. female metasoma, 89. female habitus, 90. male habitus, 91. male head, 92. male vertex and mesosoma, 93. male metasoma, 94. male genitalia, 95. male eighth sternum.