Andrena (Pallandrena) christineae, Dubitzky, Andreas, 2006

Dubitzky, Andreas, 2006, New palearctic species of the bee genus Andrena (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), Zootaxa 1284, pp. 1-27 : 19-21

Andrena (Pallandrena) christineae sp. n.

( Figs 1 C, E, G)

Female. BL: 9.6–11.2 mm (10.6 mm). FWL: 7.4–8.0 mm (7.8 mm).

Structure. Head oval, about 1.3 times broader than long in frontal view ( Fig. 1 C). Mandibles normally, apically bidentate. PLR large, trapezoid with distinct triangular emargination apically in the middle, as commonly found in Pallandrena. Surface of PLR finely wrinkled, dull to weakly shiny. Clypeus nearly twice as broad as long, dull, with extremely dense punctation. Structure of supraclypeal area and POA similar to clypeus. Frons slightly shiny with clear longitudinal notches and honeycombed punctation between. Vertex densely tesselate to granulate, dull. Area behind median ocelli with inconspicuous, weak wrinkles. Distance from hind margin of LO to hind margin of vertex 1.8 times OD ( Fig. 1 E). Hind margin of vertex rounded. GA tesselate, weakly dull to shiny, about 2.5 times as broad as compound eye in lateral view. FOV more or less parallel sided, reaching from lower margin of antennal insertion to nearly hind margin of LO ( Fig. 1 G). Width of FOV nearly twice (1.8 times) OD ( Figs 1 E, G). Smooth area between inner margin of compound eye and FOV about 1/4 maximum width of FOV. Scape ventrally densely tesselate, dull with strong punctation. AS 3 about 2.3 times longer than broad, nearly as long as following three segments together. AS 4 and AS 5 slightly broader than long, AS 6– AS 12 about as long as to slightly longer than broad. AS 12 nearly twice as long as broad. Pronotum tesselate, weakly dull to shiny, with scant punctation. Scutum strongly tesselate to granulate, dull, with indistinct large punctation (=1), punctation most dense near front and hind margin. Scutellum similar to scutum but with weaker punctation. Metanotum finely wrinkled, dull, with indistinct punctation. PT weakly shiny with fine wrinkles, wrinkles most dense basally. DLP, as well as declivous part of propodeum strongly tesselate, with weakly wrinkled punctation. LP tesselate, shiny, with strong and dense punctation (<1). Claws apically bidentate. Tibia and basitarsus of hind leg slender, the latter about 4 times as long as broad and half as long as tibia. Inner spur of hind tibia basally velum­like broadened. T1 nearly smooth, shiny with distinct punctation (1) on disc. Marginal zone of T1 with only few single punctures. T2–4 strongly tesselate, slightly dull with more dispersed (>1) and indistinct punctation on disc. Marginal zone of T2–4 with dense weak punctation (=1). T5 strongly tesselate, dull with clear punctation (1). Marginal zone of T2–4 nearly half as long as total length of T. Dorsolateral convexity of T distinctly developed. Pygidial plate strongly tesselate, dull, apically truncate. S tesselate, dull to weakly shiny, with large and distinct punctation (=1).

Integument colour. Mandibles black, apically reddened. Antennal flagellum blackish­brown on both sides. All other parts of head, as well as thorax steel­grey. Tegulae brownish transparent. Legs black to blackish­brown. Distal tarsal segments brownish. Claws pale yellowish­brown basally, reddish­brown apically. Spurs bright yellowish. T1 black with exception of bright reddish marginal zone and small reddish maculations laterally (sometimes also reddish maculations on declivous basal part of T1). T2 and 3 bright reddish except a large black coloured maculation in the middle of disc. T4 mainly blackish except two laterobasal reddish maculations and the reddish transparent marginal zone. Disc of T5 completely black, marginal zone brownish transparent. Pygidial plate with bright reddish triangular area in the middle and blackish­brown margin. S1 mainly blackish. S2–4 bright reddish with black round maculation in the middle. S5 with large black maculation along apical margin and reddish areas laterobasally. S6 reddish, with large black maculation apically.

Pubescence. Main parts of head as well as scape with rather dense, medium­long to long silvery­white pubescence of branched hairs. FOV whitish­brown when seen from above. Thorax with medium­long to long silvery­white pubescence. Propodeal corbicula absent, LP with regularly sparse pubescence of long whitish branched hairs. T1 with sparse short to medium­long branched hairs. T2–4 nearly bare with few dispersed short hairs on disc and sparse ciliate apical fringes on marginal zone. Prepygidial and pygidial fimbria consisting of greyish­brown pubescence. Pubescence of front and middle leg whitish to bright yellowish­white. Flocculus of long silvery­white pubescence. Femoral and tibial scopa silvery­white, consisting of long curly­branched hairs. S2–5 with inconspicuous short, sparse hairs on disc and medium­long to long white hair fringe along apical margin.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis. Andrena christineae is designated as a member of the subgenus Pallandrena by the combination of the following characters: Vanal lobe of hind wing absent, fused with jugal lobe; propodeal corbicula absent (neither dorsoposterior nor anterior hair fringe developed); femoral and tibial scopa of hind leg consisting of characteristic curly­branched hairs. Within Pallandrena A. christineae is most similar to the east­mediterranean Andrena (Pallandrena) pallidicincta Brullé, 1832 from which it can be distinguished by the following characters (character states of A. pallidicincta given in parentheses): T1–4 bright reddish with blackish­brown maculations (completely blackish­brown); integument colour of head and thorax steel­grey (head and thorax blackish­brown); dorsolateral convexity of T2–4 protuberant swollen, apically smooth and shiny (dorsolateral convexity of T2–4 flattened, apically tesselate, dull); T1–4 weakly tesselate, strongly shiny (distinctly tesselate, weakly shiny to dull); PT finely wrinkled (PT granulate all over, no wrinkles developed); distance from hind margin of LO to hind margin of vertex 1.8 times OD (1.3 times OD); head 1.3 times as long as broad (1.2 times).

Etymology. This species is named in honor of my beloved mother Christine Dubitzky, for her curiosity and great interest in biology, she is also an excellent bee collector.

Type material. Holotype: Ψ, Turkey, Hakkari: Pass E, Uludere, 6.VI.1977, leg. Klaus Warncke, ex coll. Warncke (OLL). Paratypes: 1 Ψ, same data as holotype (OLL); 1 Ψ, Turkey, Hakkari: Mt. sat, 2050–2450 m, 10.VI.1981, leg. Klaus Warncke, ex coll. Warncke (OLL); 2 ΨΨ, Turkey, Hakkari: Tanin­Tanin­Pass, 2.VI.1980, leg. Klaus Warncke, ex coll. Warncke (OLL); 1 Ψ, Turkey, Agri: 10 kmN Tutak, 1600 m, 28.V.1980, leg. Klaus Warncke, ex coll. Warncke (OLL, CAD); 1 Ψ, Iran, Kermanshahan, 80 km SE Kermanshaha, Buchan, 1900–2000 m, 19.5.1975, leg. Holzschuh & Ressl, ex coll. Grünwaldt ( ZSM).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Head and head structures, part I. A: Profile of male of A. planti sp. n.; B: Profile of female of A. susanneae sp. n.; C: Portrait of female of A. christineae sp. n.; D: Portrait of female of A. scheuchli sp. n.; E: Dorsal view of female head of A. christineae sp. n.; F: Dorsal view of female head of A. scheuchli sp. n.; G: Left FOV of female of A. christineae sp. n.; H: Left FOV of female of A. scheuchli sp. n. Dotted lines in Figs E – H indicate outline of FOV. Scale bars: 500 µm (A – F), 250 µm (G – H).