Luisanthrena Ramos & Melo, 2021

Ramos, Kelli S. & Melo, Gabriel A. R., 2021, Three new genera of Protandrenini bees from South America (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Andreninae), Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (e 20210096) 65 (4), pp. 1-10 : 3-4

Luisanthrena Ramos & Melo , new genus

( Figs. 2-3 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:11EA0C70-3FEF-41B3-8317-BA0C2170E6ED

Type species: Luisanthrena ruzae Ramos & Melo , new species.

Diagnosis and comments. The new genus is most similar to Pseudosarus by its small body size (4.5–5.0 mm in body length), mostly dull and finely punctate integument on head and mesosoma, and rather broadly V-shaped mid-apical emargination of S6 of the male. Both genera are also the only Protandrenini from South America with species that may exhibit a weakly metallic greenish body. Luisanthrena differs from Pseudosarus mainly in sparse pilosity on head and mesosoma, basal area of metapostnotum finely striate (except female ofL. ruzae n. sp.), male with yellow marks on head and legs, and male genitalia with the gonostylus without long apical setae. Furthermore, the new genus can be recognized by the combination of the following features: lower paraocular area swollen ( Figs.2A and C ), forewing with two submarginal cells, pterostigma large, scopa of female with loose simple hairs, middle tibial spur of the female toothed, basal area of metapostnotum glabrous and about as long as metanotum ( Fig. 2B ), marginal zone of metasomal terga semi-translucent ( Figs. 2B and D ), metasomal sternum of female without spines or modified hairs, metatibia of male toothed, distal margin of male S6 slightly U-emarginated ( Fig. 3B ), S7 of male with slender distal lobes and retrorse apically ( Fig. 3C ), and genitalia lacking a basal sclerite ( Figs. 3 E-F).

Description. Small bees, body length between 4-5 mm. Color brown to black, with yellow areas on fore tibia of female and head and legs of male; marginal zone of metasomal terga semi-translucent light brown. Pubescence predominantly sparse and whitish to pale yellow in color; prepygidial and pygidial fimbria light brown in female. Eyes glabrous; pronotal collar with dense plumose hairs; basal portion of metapostnotum predominantly glabrous, except for few tiny hairs on lateral areas; hind tibial scopa loose, setae long and simple; metasomal terga without hair bands; disc of metasomal terga with very short decumbent and sparse hairs, gradually increasing in length on lateral portions; marginal zone of T1-T4 of female and T1-T5 of male glabrous; basal half of sterna with short semidecumbent and sparse hairs; distal half of sterna with erect longer minutely-branched hairs. Integumental surface of head and mesossoma strongly reticulated and finely punctate; metapostnotum depressed and striate basally (except in female of L. ruzae n. sp.), remaining portions reticulate; metasomal terga reticulate with shallow sparse punctation; marginal zone of metasomal terga mostly smooth, with inconspicuous reticulation; metasomal sterna weakly reticulate; pygidial plate of female with longitudinal carina, absent in male. Facial foveae well marked; tentorial pit at intersection between outer subantennal and epistomal sutures; eye inner orbits slightly convergent below; antennal flagellum unmodified and longer than head width; mandible simple; pronotal collar without lamella; omaulus smoothly curved from lateral to anterior mesepisternal surfaces; forewing with two submarginal cells, first submarginal cell distinctly longer than second; pterostigma clearly wider than prestigma, margin within marginal cell convex; hind tibia of male toothed on outer margin; tarsal claws bifid; basal portion of metapostnotum as long as metanotum; lateral fovea of T2 evident; lateral line evident at least on T1–T2; metasoma broader than mesosoma in female and variable in male; basal portion (adjacent to pregradular area) of metasomal terga shallow in relation to disc. Apex of S6 slightly U-emarginated ( Fig.3B ); S7 of male with slender distal lobes, constricted at their bases and retrorse at the apices ( Fig. 3C ); S8 truncate basally ( Fig. 3D ); distal process of S8 elongate, gradually tapering apically, with few tiny hairs at apices ( Fig. 3D ); S8 with rounded distal apices; genitalia lacking a basal sclerite; gonocoxite without deep oblique impression; gonostylus long and fused with gonocoxite, with few tiny hairs apically; volsella denticulate on opposable surfaces of digitus and cuspis, and along dorsal surface of digitus; digitus longer than cuspis ( Figs. 3 E-F).

Species included. Luisanthrena ruzae Ramos & Melo , new species and L. vargasllosai ( Gonzalez & Alvarado, 2019) new combination.

Distribution. The new genus is known from the high elevations along the Andes in Ecuador and Peru.

Etymology. The genus name is dedicated to the bee systematist Dr. Luisa Ruz in recognition of her numerous contributions to the understanding of the Protandrenini bee fauna. The name Anthrena, an unjustified emendation of Andrena, has been used previously to form the names of other andrenine genera. The gender is feminine.

Figures

Figure 2 Luisanthrena ruzae Ramos & Melo new species, paratypes. A, head of female in frontal view. B, female in dorsal view. C, head of male in frontal view. D, male in lateral view.Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 3 Luisanthrena ruzae Ramos & Melo new species, male paratype. A, T7 in postero-dorsal view.B, S6 in ventral view.C, S7 in ventral view. D, S8 in ventral view.e, genitalia in ventral view. f, genitalia in dorsal view.Scale bar 0.2 mm.