Pseudoanthidium obscuratum ( Morawitz, 1875 )

Kasparek, Max, 2024, New species, new synonyms, and resurrected taxa: A review of West and Central Palaearctic members of the genus Pseudoanthidium (Apoidea: Megachilidae), Zootaxa 5541 (1), pp. 1-50 : 16-19

Pseudoanthidium obscuratum ( Morawitz, 1875)

( Figs 9 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24, 25)

Anthidium obscuratum Morawitz, 1875 .—Female, Uzbekistan.

Anthidium obscuratum Morawitz, 1875 .—Male, Uzbekistan ( Morawitz 1894).

Type material examined. Lectotype: female, “Karakasuk”, “ obscuratum Mor. Type”, “ Syntypus ”, “ Lectotypus, Anthidium obscuratum Mor. female (Warncke 1978)” ( ZISP, examined by photograph). See also Warncke (1980). This is apparently one of the specimens collected by Aleksey Fedtschenko on 11 July 1871 [in Julian calendar, actually 23 July in the Gregorian calendar] ( Morawitz 1875, travel itinerary by Baker 2004). The location where the material was collected is indicated as “Karakasuk”, a mountain pass and rangeland area situated above Schahimardan (Shohimardon) in the Ferghana area (approximately 39.98°N 71.80°E), probably identical with the village “Kokand”. Today, it is an Uzbek enclave in Kyrgyzstan.

Other material that had beeen attributed to type material: Female, “Kumar”, “VIII.26” [year? to be read as 26. August, following Friese (1898)], “ Anthidium obscuratum ”, “coll. Friese”, “ TYPUS ”, “ Pseudoanthidium (Reanthidium) obscuratum Mor. J. Pasteels det. 1964”, http://coll.mfn-berlin.de/u/97637a ( ZMB).—The locality “Kumar” could not be synonymized with certainty with a modern locality name, but seems to be Vodil, close to Shohimardon (40.17°N 71.72°E). Friese (1898) mentioned that he possesses two typical females from Kumar (“ Anthidium obscuratum liegt mir in 2 typischen ♀ von Kumar (26. August) vor”). However, the kind of label indicates that at least the specimen deposited in ZMB today was labelled as type by Friese rather than by Morawitz himself. It is known that Friese had a practice of adding type labels to material he later received and identified as conspecific with previously described taxa ( Rasmussen & Ascher 2008). Therefore, Friese’s material from Kumar cannot be treated as type material, although it was probably collected in close proximity to the type locality.

Other material examined (material in ZISP examined by photographs): KAZAKHASTAN: 1♀, 2♂, 35 km W Almaty (43.21°N 76.44°E), 16.vii.1981, M. Kocourek leg. ( CMK: ex coll. Kocourek, ms3216, 3219, 3223).— KYRGYZSTAN: 2♀, 4♂, 15 km S Bishkek: Con-Aryk (42.74°N 74.57°E), 08.vii.1981, M. Kocourek leg. ( CMK: ex coll. Kocourek, ms3217, 3218, 3220-3222, 3224).— 1♀, ibid., 6.vii.1983 ( OLL: oll1058).— 1♀, Bishkek (42.88°N 74.56°E), 30.vi.1983 ( OLL: oll1059).— TAJIKISTAN: 1♀, Veshab (39.41°N 68.93°E), viii.1919, Glasunov leg. ( CMK: ex coll. F. Morawitz, ms3535).— 2♀, Seravschan, Veschab (39.41°N 68.93°E), 1892, Glasunov leg. (coll. F. Morawitz) ( ZISP).— 1 ex., Varzob district: Khodza-obi-garm, S slope of Gissar Range (38°53’N 68° 47°E), 16.ix.1943, Nikolskaya leg. ( ZISP).— 2♂, Warsant [Varsant], 21.vii [1892 according to the collector’s travel itinerary], Glas. [apparently stands for Glasunov], coll. F. Morawitz ( ZISP).— 2♀, Obburdan (40.44°N 69.30°E), 9.vii. (year?) ( ZISP, also mentioned by Morawitz 1894 and Friese 1898).— 3♀, Kumar, 26.viii (year? See above for further material from this locality) ( ZISP, ZMB).

Other material: MoA (1989) listed two specimens in the Mavromoustakis collection (cf. Mavromoustakis 1939). Additionally, one specimen each in HNMB and SDEI (not examined) .

Genetic barcode information. No information available.

Diagnosis. The female has a unique T 6 with a lateral, slightly depressed wing-like projection and an undulated apical posterior margin. The male is characterized by laterally thick, impressed projections of T 5 and T 6 combined with a broad, semi-rectangular emargination of T 7. Disc of T 6 protruding. The male has specialized hairs on S 3 and combs on S 5.

Description. Female ( Fig. 9a ). 8–9 mm.— Head: Predominantly black, except for a small triangular spot behind the zenith of the eye; basal area of clypeus scattered punctate with polished interstices, lower half of clypeus densely punctate; apical ridge protruding, polished with mostly 5–6 tubercles ( Figs 8 , 9c , 20 ); ridge anteriorly covered with dense fringe of short hairs; mandible robust, shining, black and chestnut-brown, with five teeth, separated by acute notches; head densely and finely punctate, with only supraclypeal area shining with scattered punctures; antenna black.— Mesosoma : Scutum, scutellum and axilla black; apical margin of scutellum acute-angled in profile, widely rounded in dorsal view; omaulus angulate; mesepisternum with long whitish hairs.— Metasoma: Black; lateral yellow spot on T 1, mediolateral yellow spots on T 3– T 5, often reduced in size; T 6 black; lateral, slightly depressed wing-like projection and an undulated apical posterior margin with a shallow, light brown lamellate lobe ( Fig. 22 ); ventral scopa dark grey.— Legs: Dark brown to black; pubescence white, with yellow bristles on inner face of hind basitarsus.— Wing: Slightly brownish infuscated.

Male ( Fig. 9b ). 9–10 mm.— Head: Black except for a small yellow, triangular spot behind the zenith of the eye; clypeus ivory-coloured, bell-shaped, anterior margin semicircularly curved inwards ( Fig. 21 ); anterior half of clypeus smooth with scattered punctures, while posterior part with dense, fine punctation and long hair; apical margin black and crenulate; mandible short, black or chestnut-brown, with three strong black teeth; lower part of lower paraocular area ivory-coloured, not reaching upper end of clypeus and antennal socket; pubescence pale grey-yellow.— Mesosoma : Scutum black with regular, fine punctation; pronotal lobe dark brown and lamellate; scutellum, in profile, rounded medially and acute-angled laterally; outer margin of axilla not protruding beyond margin of scutellum.— Metasoma: Black; T 1, sometimes also T 2 and T 3, with a small lateral yellow spot; ( T 2) T 3- T 5 with mediolateral yellow maculae; T 5 and T 6 with lateral projection, depressed from dorsal; T 5 shining with scattered, irregular punctation; T 6 mediolaterally bulging; T 7 with median bulge and median rectangular emargination (broader than long) ( Figs 9d–e , 21 , 22 ); lateral margin angulate; S 3 with specialized undulate and apically hooked hairs; S 5 with black basal comb, and strong black comb with approximately 25 digits apically at long arms.— Genitalia: Gonostyli paddle-shaped, tapering towards the apex; penis valve slender, curved in the upper part ( Fig. 25 ).

Distribution. In addition to the localities listed under “material examined”, Murao et al. (2015) found the species in Kazakhstan in Aksu Valley (44.78°N 79.10°E) and Kashi-Kaindy, Jabagly (42.25°N 70.25°E). Mavromoustakis (1939) reported material from Hissar Valley in Tajikistan (Kvak, 38.80°N 68.76°E; Rujdasht, 38.84°N 68.83°E). For Kazakhstan, mentioned by Marikovskaya (1986) without details. Overall, the species was thus reported from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan ( Fig. 26b ).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Pseudoanthidium moricei (Friese, 1911) stat. resurrect. a. Face of a female from Palestine (holotype); b. Face of a female from Kazakhstan. Note the different extension of light colouration.

FIGURE 9. Pseudoanthidium obscuratum (Morawitz, 1875). a. Habitus dorsal, female from Uzbekistan; b. Habitus dorsal, male from Kyrgyzstan; c. Head of the female from Uzbekistan; d–e. Apical terga of the male (specimen from Kyrgyzstan).

FIGURE 20. Face of the female of Palaearctic species of Pseudoanthidium (continued on the following page).

FIGURE 21. Faces of the male of Palaearctic species of the genus Pseudoanthidium.

FIGURE 22. Apical terga of females of Palaearctic Pseudoanthidium species.

FIGURE 23. Apical terga of males of Palaearctic Pseudoanthidium species.

FIGURE 25. Male genitalia of selected Palaearctic species of Pseudoanthidium.

FIGURE 26. Distribution of selected species of Pseudoanthidium. a. Pseudoanthidium microrubrum sp. nov., P. octodentatum, and P. royoi stat. resurrect. Since the collection site of P. octodentatum in Algeria is not known, a random location was selected; b. Pseudoanthidium ivanovi stat. resurrect., P. obscuratum, and P. tajikistanicum sp. nov.