Andrena (Micrandrena) minutuloides Perkins, 1914

WOOD, T. J., 2024, Further revisions to the Palaearctic Andrena fauna (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), Zootaxa 5483 (1), pp. 1-150 : 60

Andrena (Micrandrena) minutuloides Perkins, 1914

Andrena minutuloides Perkins, 1914: 114 , ♀ ♂ [ England, OUMNH, not examined]

Andrena (Micrandrena) corssubalpina Theunert, 2007: 217 , ♀ [ France: Corsica, DEI, examined] syn. nov. ( Figures 38A–F )

Remarks. Andrena corssubalpina was described from a high altitude site in northern Corsica. It was diagnosed against French members of the subgenus Micrandrena , with the conclusion drawn that it did not match any of them, and it was described in the female sex only. Examination of the holotype in conjunction with additional material from Corsica, including the undescribed male, shows that it is conspecific with A. minutuloides , with which it is synonymised syn. nov.

The holotype female is a 1 st generation specimen ( A. minutuloides being a bivoltine species), and shows the stronger integumental shagreen known to be expressed in this generation compared to the summer generation. Theunert (2007: 218) argues that A. minutuloides has a strongly shining scutellum, but this is only true in the summer generation. Spring individuals can show a scutum and scutellum that are weakly shagreened to more or less dull, matching the condition observed in A. corssubalpina ( Figure 38D ). It should be noted that spring individuals of A. minutuloides are much less commonly encountered than summer individuals, potentially contributing to this confusion. Theunert also argues that the propodeal triangle of A. corssubalpina is more weakly wrinkled, the scutum is duller and less strongly punctured, and the metasoma is completely puncture-free, whereas is can be punctate in A. minutuloides . None of these characters allow for separation from A. minutuloides across both generations and when considering specimens from across its large range from Morocco to Central Asia. The specimen itself also shows the slightly ventrally constricted foveae and tergal margins with weak apical hair fringes ( Figure 38F ; 1 st generation only) typical of A. minutuloides .

Examination of male specimens caught from high altitude sites in Corsica further supports conspecificity. The genital capsule of such males is identical to that displayed by A. minutuloides . As such, A. corssubalpina is considered to represent only a slightly more strongly sculptured 1 st generation individual of the widespread species A. minutuloides .

Material examined. FRANCE: Nordseite Bocca Piccaia [Corsica], 25.vi.2006, 1♀, leg. R. Theunert, DEI (holotype of A. corssubalpina ) ; Corse, 17 km W Solenzara, Col de Larone , 620 m, 8.vi.1970, 2♀, leg. J. v. d. Vecht, RMNH ; Corse, Asco, Pont de Roggia , 10.vi.2020, 1♀, leg. A. Cornuel-W, OCIC ; Corse, Murraciole, Col de Sorba , 27.v.2020, 1♂, leg. A. Cornuel-W, OCIC ; Corse, Quenza , Pian’dOrnucciu, 26.vi.2019, 1♀, leg. A. Cornuel-W, OCIC ; Corse, Quenza, Punta di l’Arjettu , 24.v.2020, 2♂, leg. A. Cornuel-W, OCIC ; Corse, Venaco, Lugo , 9.vi.2019, 1♀, leg. A. Cornuel-W, OCIC .

Distribution. Palaearctic, from Morocco to Central Asia ( Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Andrena (Avandrena) avara Warncke, 1967 sensu stricto. A. Label details; B. Habitus, lateral view; C. Face, frontal view; D. Terga, dorsal view.

FIGURE 38. Andrena (Micrandrena) corssubalpina Theunert, 2007 holotype female.A. Label details; B. Habitus, lateral view; C. Face, frontal view; D. Scutum, dorsolateral view; E. Propodeum, dorsal view; F. Terga, dorsal view.