Andrena (Melanapis) fuscosa Erichson, 1835

WOOD, T. J., 2024, Further revisions to the Palaearctic Andrena fauna (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), Zootaxa 5483 (1), pp. 1-150 : 52-53

Andrena (Melanapis) fuscosa Erichson, 1835

Andrena fuscosa Erichson, 1835: 103 , ♂ [ Spain, ZMHB, examined]

Andrena cussariensis kohatensis Cockerell, 1917: 283 , ♀ [ Pakistan, USNM, photograph examined] syn. nov.

Remarks. Andrena fuscosa is a widespread and highly variable species found in both the West and Central Palaearctic to northern India. Genetically, specimens from northern India differ in their COI barcode sequence by only around 1% from specimens from Spain, the locus typicus ( Wood 2023b). Due to high morphological variation, many synonyms have been described (e.g. Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002; Wood 2023c), but a broad interpretation is currently followed ( Wood 2023b).

Cockerell (1917) described new species from British India, from what is now modern Pakistan. Among these was A. cussariensis kohatensis that Cockerell indicated (based only on the description) was close to A. (Melandrena) cussariensis Morawitz, 1886 , but closer to A. ephippium Spinola, 1838 (= A. fuscosa , see Wood 2023c). For reasons unknown, he described Pakistani material as A. cussariensis kohatensis . Examination of type photographs shows that A. cussariensis kohatensis is clearly a junior synonym of A. fuscosa due to the presence of a rugose-areolate propodeal triangle (hence clearly not part of the subgenus Melandrena Pérez, 1890 ), ovoid and densely punctate metasoma, dark integument with partial red markings on the scutum and scutellum, dark infuscate wings, and short tight scopal hairs. The specimen in the USNM is likely automatically the holotype since Cockerell only described the female, and did not indicate that there were additional specimens. There are no confirmed records of true A. (Melandrena) cussariensis from Pakistan, with a current south-eastern range limit in northern Iran and Central Asia ( Wood & Monfared 2022).

Material examined. SPAIN: Andalucia, [undated], 1♂, ZMHB (holotype/ syntype) ; PAKISTAN: Kohat, Mch’ 06 [iii.1906], 1♀, leg. F. Benton, USNM (holotype/ syntype of A. cussariensis kohatensis ; type no. 23135, examined by photograph) .

Distribution. West Palaearctic, Central Asia, Pakistan, and India ( Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002; Osytshnjuk et al. 2008; Wood 2023b).