Blandandrena subgen. nov.

Wood, Thomas J., 2023, The genus Andrena Fabricius, 1775 in the Iberian Peninsula (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 96, pp. 241-484 : 241

Subgenus Blandandrena subgen. nov.

Type species.

Andrena blanda Pérez, 1895.

Diagnosis.

Blandandrena is monotypic, and hence diagnosis of A. blanda (Fig. 40 ) is de facto diagnosis of the subgenus. Through the combination of slightly upturned fore margin of the clypeus, fovea broad and occupying over ½ the space between the lateral ocellus and the inner margin of the compound eye, weak but distinct humeral angle, unmodified posterior face of the hind femur (without teeth, carinae, or spines), lack of squamous hairs, simple hind tibial spur (not broadened basally or medially), dark integument, black male clypeus, and essential absence of defining features it falls very close to members of the Andrena relata -group and to Andrena Ovandrena subgen. nov. that were formerly lumped together under the subgenus Ovandrena Poliandrena (see above). Andrena blanda females can provisionally be separated from the Andrena relata -group by the weakly punctate terga, punctures shallow and somewhat obscure, separated by 1-2 puncture diameters (Fig. 40D ) whereas in the Andrena relata -group, tergal punctures are typically much stronger, clear and dense, separated by 1-2 puncture diameters but often by only 1 puncture diameter. This character works for West Mediterranean members of the Andrena relata -group, but additional work is needed to define this subgenus in the east, and so it is not defined and described here. Andrena blanda females can be separated from the Ovandrena by their simple scutal hairs (Fig. 40A-C ; hairs semi-squamous in Ovandrena ) and poorly delineated propodeal triangle that lacks lateral carinae (Fig. 40C ; propodeal triangle clearly defined by presence of lateral carinae in Ovandrena ; see below for additional detail).

Andrena blanda males can be separated by their black clypeus (Fig. 40F ) in combination with their distinctive genital capsule (Fig. 40G ). Most members of the Andrena relata -group have a yellow-marked clypeus, but for those with a black clypeus (e.g. A. corax ), the genital capsule allows recognition. In A. blanda , the genital capsule is short and compact, more or less round, with gonocoxae with apically diverging inner margins and which are produced into short pointed teeth, and the gonostyli are apically strongly broadened and flattened, the disc being slightly broader than long. In the Andrena relata -group, the genital capsule is typically simple, without strongly apically broadened gonostyli, or when this is the case (e.g. A. murana Warncke, 1975a) then the clypeus is yellow-marked and the gonocoxae are not produced into pointed teeth. Andrena blanda can be separated from the Ovandrena by the genital capsule, as in Ovandrena the gonostyli are apically flattened and spatulate, but the disc is always longer than broad. The gonocoxae are also produced into apically projecting teeth, but the inner margins of the gonocoxae are parallel and do not diverge. The propodeal triangle of Ovandrena is also triangular and strongly defined by lateral carinae, whereas in A. blanda it is poorly defined and lacks lateral carinae.

Description.

Medium-sized bees (9-10 mm) with dark integument. Head broad, 1.4 times broader than long. Gena slightly exceeding width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance 1.5-2 times diameter of lateral ocellus, slightly broader in male sex. Facial fovea broad, occupying almost entire distance between lateral ocellus and inner margin of compound eye. Mesosoma dorsally with moderately long light brown hairs, laterally with white hairs. Pronotum laterally with humeral angle. Dorsolateral surface of propodeum with obscure and finely raised rugosity; propodeal triangle broad, poorly delineated laterally, surface with fine granular reticulation, basally with weakly raised rugosity, propodeal triangle thus defined by change in surface sculpture. Forewing with nervulus antefurcal. Hind tibial spurs simple, not broadened basally or medially. Terga weakly and obscurely punctate, punctures separated by 1-2 puncture diameters. Male genital capsule rounded, more or less circular in outline, gonocoxae with inner margins apically diverging, produced into apically projecting short pointed teeth. Gonostyli apically broadened and flattened, apical disc slightly broader than long. Penis valves relatively narrow, occupying less than half space between gonostyli.

Etymology.

The name is taken from the name of the type species A. blanda , with Andrena blanda being the feminine singular of the adjective blandus which can mean pleasant, agreeable, smooth. It can be used to refer to the generally unremarkable nature of the species which has made it hard to assign to a particular group of species. The gender is feminine.

Included species.

Andrena blanda (Spain, including mainland Spain and newly recorded for Fuerteventura), Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia; Gusenleitner and Schwarz 2002).

Material examined (illustrative).

Algeria: Biskra [34.8600°N, 5.6995°E], 1♀, MNHN (lectotype des. Warncke 1967); 5 km N of Mecheria , st. 9, 7.iv.1983, 1♀, leg. R. Leys & P. v. d. Hurk, RMNH; 5 km SE of Sfissifa, st. 8, 6.iv.1983, 1♀, leg. R. Leys & P. v. d. Hurk, RMNH ; Morocco: Drâa-Tafilalet, Tazenakht , 1 km W Anezal, c. 1600 m, 15.iv.2022, 1♀, leg. T.J. Wood, TJWC; Foum Zguid, 50 km N, 30.iii.1986, 1♂, 16♀, leg. M. Schwarz, MSC; Ifkern, 25 km E Boulemane, 25.v.1995, 10♀, leg. Mi. Halada, OÖLM ; Spain: Fuerteventura, Costa Calma, ESE Montana Pelada , 29.iii.2015, 3♀, leg. A. Müller, AMC/TJWC; Fuerteventura, S Costa Calma, Montañeta de los Verdes, 1.iv.2015, 5♀, leg. A. Müller, AMC; Sierra de Maria , 25 km W Lorca, 10.v.2003, 1♀, leg. J. Halada, OÖLM; Granada, Pantano de los Bermejales, 26.v.1982, 1♀, leg. R. Leys, RMNH .

Figures

Figure 40. Andrena (Blandandrena) blanda Perez, 1895, female A profile B face, frontal view C propodeum, dorsal view D terga, dorsal view; male E profile F face, frontal view G terga, dorsal view H genital capsule.