Andrena (Warnckandrena) curiosa ( Morawitz, 1877 )

Pisanty, Gideon & Wood, Thomas James, 2024, The early-diverging subgenera of the bee genus Andrena (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) in the Old World, Zootaxa 5474 (5), pp. 451-488 : 459-460

Andrena (Warnckandrena) curiosa ( Morawitz, 1877)

( Figs. 1–9 , 27–29 , 37, 42, 44–46)

Melitta curiosa Morawitz, 1877: 60–62 , ♂ [ Armenia: ZISP].

Melittoides rostrata Friese, 1921: 174–175 , ♀ [ Turkey: ZMB], syn. Warncke 1967: 303 ( Figs. 44–46 ).

Melittoides curiosus (Morawitz) : Friese 1921: 177.

Melittoides rostratus Friese : Friese 1921: 180.

Andrena curiosa (Morawitz) : Warncke 1967: 264.

Andrena (Melittoides) curiosa (Morawitz) : Warncke 1968: 45.

Andrena (Melittoides) curiosa (Morawitz) : Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002: 208–210.

Distribution: Israel, Jordan, Syria, Greece (Aegean Islands), Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia (Dagestan), Iran ( Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002; Maharramov et al. 2015; Astafurova et al. 2021; Wood & Monfared 2022). Ascher & Pickering (2024) mention this species also from Georgia.

Flight period: March–early July (at altitude).

Flower records: Fabaceae : Lathyrus ( Özbek 1976) ; Lamiaceae : Salvia dominica (new record); Salvia sp. ( Morawitz 1877); Papaveraceae : Papaver rhoeas ( Kemp et al. 2013) ; Papaver sp. ( Friese 1921). Andrena curiosa , aided by its elongate mouthparts, likely obtains nectar from flowers other than the presumed pollen host, as species of Papaver contain little if any nectar (Raine & Chittka 2007; Hicks et al. 2016). Additionally, males of A. curiosa are mentioned as pollinators of two sexually deceptive orchid taxa: Ophrys argolica subsp. lesbis ( Paulus & Gack 1990) , O. sphegodes subsp. lycia ( Paulus 2018) .

Pollen preferences: A single pollen load from Turkey contained 100% Papaver pollen ( Papaveraceae ). This finding corroborates observations by Scheuchl of females collecting pollen on Papaver rhoeas in Turkey ( Kemp et al. 2013). More pollen analysis is needed, but based on the available data, we suspect that the species is narrowly oligolectic on this plant genus. Unfortunately, most specimens of A. curiosa in collections are devoid of pollen loads, possibly because the pollen is carried dry and falls off easily during specimen handling and storage, a common occurrence in bee species collecting Papaver pollen (TJW, personal observation). A similar situation occurs in the subgenus A. ( Rufandrena ), as the two known species are specialists on the wind-pollinated genus Plantago ( Plantaginaceae ) that presents small fine pollen grains that are carried dry in the scopae, and consequently almost all museum specimens of A. ( Rufandrena ) lack pollen in their scopae ( Wood 2023c).

Genetic sequences available: BOLD accession nos. ANDGP004-23, ANDGP006-23 ( Turkey), ANDGP005- 23 ( Jordan); Genbank accession no. SRX10365390 (UCE, Israel).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: LECTOTYPE (examined by photograph): ARMENIA • ♂; “Nikolajewka. – Helenowka. – Delishan” [Sevan]; ZISP.— SYNTYPES ( Melittoides rostrata Friese ) ( Figs. 44–46 ): TURKEY • 2♀; Amanusgeb [Nur mountains], Jaribaschi; ZMB .— non-type material: AZERBAIJAN • 1♂; Běž Barma [Besh Barmag Mountain]; May 1978; Kocourek leg.; OLML .— IRAN • 1♂; 6 km N Gačsar [Gach Sar]; 36°09' N, 51°17' E; 29 May 2002; J. Procházka leg.; OLML • 1♂; ibid.; 1 Jun. 2002. — ISRAEL • 1♂; Beqoa [Beko’a]; 22 Mar. 2011; G. Pisanty leg.; on Salvia dominica ; Genbank accession no. SRX10365390; SMNHTAU 80626 • 1♂; Upper Galile [Galilee], Ayglet Hashahar [Ayelet HaShahar]; 1 Apr. 1981; N.B.M. Brantjes leg.; RMNH ZMA. INS.5102441. — JORDAN • 1♀; 10 km NNE of Jerash; 20 Apr. 2002; M. Snižek leg.; OLML • 1♀; ibid.; BOLD accession no. ANDGP005-23. — SYRIA • 1♂; Simeon Kloster, 45 km NW Aleppo; 500 m a.s.l.; 19 Apr. 1992; K. Warncke leg.; OLML .— TURKEY • 1♂; Ağrı Prov., N Süphan Dağı [Mount Süphan]; 11 Jun. 1977; K. Warncke leg.; OLML • 1♀; Hakkâri Prov., Varegöz/Sat Dağı; 1700 m a.s.l.; 29 Jun. 1985; Schacht leg.; OLML • 1♀; Hakkâri Prov., S Varegös/Mt. Sat; 1700 m a.s.l.; 15 Jun. 1984; K. Warncke leg.; OLML • 1♂; Kahramanmaraş Prov., Afşin ; 15 May 1984; OLML • 1♀; Sivas Prov., Şarkışla ; 15 Jun. 1977; K. Warncke leg.; OLML • 1♂; Van Prov., Erçek [Lake Erçek]; 10 Jun. 1977; K. Warncke leg.; OLML • 1♀; Van Prov., W Erçek [ Lake Erçek ]; 1850 m a.s.l.; 8 Jun. 1981; K. Warncke leg.; OLML • 1♀; 20 km W Ağrı; 4 Jul. 1997; Ma. Halada leg.; OLML • 1♂; 10 km S Ankara; 5 Jun. 1988; K. Warncke leg.; OLML • 1♀; 10 km E Erciş, Van Golu [Lake Van]; 25 Jun. 1997; M. Halada leg.; OLML • 1♀; ibid.; BOLD accession no. ANDGP004-23 • 1♀; 20 km SE Horasan, Delibaba [Dellalhani]; 3 Jul. 1997; Ma. Halada leg.; OLML • 1♀; 10 km N Muradya [ Muradiye ]; 27 Jun. 1997; M. Halada leg.; OLML • 1♀; 40 km NE Muradiye ; 2200 m a.s.l.; 5 Jul. 2000; Ma. Halada leg.; OLML • 1♀; E Uludere ; 5 Jun. 1977; K. Warncke leg.; OLML • 1♂; Ürgüp env., 30 km E Nevşehir; 1400 m a.s.l.; 30 May 2001; K. Deneš sen. leg.; BOLD accession no. ANDGP006-23; OLML .

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Andrena (Warnckandrena) curiosa (Morawitz), female: 1, flagellum; 2, vertex and mesosoma; 3, metasoma; 4, profile of propodeum; 5, propodeal triangle; 6, flocculus and scopa; 7, forewing venation; 8, habitus; 9, head.

FIGURES 18–29. Andrena (Warnckandrena) male habitus (18, 21, 24, 27), heads (19, 22, 25, 28) and genitalia (20, 23, 26, 29): 18–20, A. coromanda Warncke; 21–23, A. papio sp. nov.; 24–26, A. otoolei sp. nov.; 27–29, A. curiosa (Morawitz).

FIGURES 44–46. Melittoides rostrata Friese, female paratype: 44, habitus; 45, head; 46, labels.