Andrena (Habromelissa) sanguinea, Wood, 2023

Wood, Thomas, 2023, New Andrena species from Central Asia (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 55 (1), pp. 355-371 : 356-359

Andrena (Habromelissa) sanguinea nov.sp. ( Figs 1-6 )

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Holotypes: Kyrgyzstan:TerskejMt. R., 15km SSE Kotchkorka vill. [Kochkor], 42.1003 oN, 75.8336 oE, 20.xiii.1994, 1♀, leg. D. Milko, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz ; Paratypes: Kyrgyzstan: Terskej Mt. R., 15 km SSE Kotchkorka vill. [Kochkor], 20.xiii.1994, 1♀, leg. D. Milko, coll. T. J. Wood .

D i a g n o s i s. Andrena sanguinea is challenging to recognise, as most of the characters defining the subgenus Habromelissa are found in the male sex (see discussion in WOOD 2023b). They can be recognised by their relatively small body size, their slim appearance, pronotum with weak humeral angle, foveae occupying more than half of space between lateral ocellus and compound eye ( Figure 4 ), foveae not extending ventrally below the level of the antennal insertions, clypeus slightly domed, process of the labrum with strong 90 o angle separating frontal and ventral parts, long A3 exceeding length of A4+5 ( Figure 2 ), terga extensively red-marked ( Figure 6 ), and summer to autumn emergence. They are closest to A. qinhaiensis XU, 1994 ( China: Gansu, Qinghai) and A. angustula WOOD, 2023 ( Mongolia).

They can be separated from A. qinhaiensis by the dull clypeus which is shagreened over the majority of its area and covered in weakly raised but distinct latitudinal striations ( Figure 3 ; in A. qinhaiensis with clypeus shining over the majority of its area, without latitudinal striations), ocelloccipital distance slightly exceeding the diameter of a lateral ocellus, vertex clearly punctate and weakly shining ( Figure 4 ; in A. qinhaiensis with ocelloccipital distance equalling 0.5 times the diameter of a lateral ocellus, vertex shagreened and dull, with obscure punctures), scutum and scutellum smooth and shining over the majority of their area, with only small shagreened areas anteriorly and laterally ( Figure 5 ; in A. qinhaiensis with the scutum and scutellum more extensively shagreened, with only a small smooth and shining area medially), and foveae filled with white hairs ( Figure 4 ; in A. qinhaiensis foveae filled with dark brown hairs).

They can be separated from A. angustula due to the wider facial foveae which occupy essentially the entire space between the compound eye and a lateral ocellus ( Figure 4 ; in A. angustula occupying 3/4rds of the space between the compound eye and a lateral ocellus), by the sculpture of the frons which is covered with dense longitudinal striations, these somewhat obscure the underling surface so that the punctures of the underlying integument are partially obscured ( Figure 4 ; in A. angustula with the frons lacking clear longitudinal striations, the surface of the integument of the frons visible along with its clear and unobscured punctures), by the orange hind tibiae and tarsi ( Figure 1 ; in A. angustula with hind legs dark), and by the sculpture of the clypeus which has very weakly but distinctly raised latitudinal ridges giving a sculptured appearance ( Figure 3 ; in A. angustula with the clypeus evenly shagreened, without such latitudinal ridges).

It is important to note that an additional specimen from Kyrgyzstan (see below) could not be confidently placed into either this new species or any of the existing species concepts, as whilst it is closest to A. sanguinea , the sculpture of the frons is quite different with clear visible interspaces between the longitudinal striations of the frons, in which deep punctures can be seen. This approaches the condition seen in A. angustula. This specimen was also collected in mid-July, a full month before the late August capture date of the A. sanguinea type series. All three specimens display relatively unabraded wings; it is difficult to conclude further with such limited material. Until more material is available, particularly male material, this specimen is best referred to as A. aff sanguinea , and it is not included in the type series.

D e s c r i p t i o n.

Female. Body length: 10 mm ( Figure 1 ). Head: Dark, 1.2 times wider than long ( Figure 2 ). Clypeus weakly elevated, more or less flattened medially; surface with fine granular shagreen, dull to weakly shining along apical margin, in basal 3/4rds with weakly but distinctly raised ridges which form pattern of latitudinal striations ( Figure 3 ). Clypeal surface punctate, punctures separated by 0.5 puncture diameters laterally, becoming sparser medially, here separated by 1-2 puncture diameters, some punctures latitudinally elongate due to presence of latitudinal striations. Process of labrum unusual, with strong 90 o angle separating frontal and ventral parts; viewed frontally process of labrum short, three times wider than long, rectangular; viewed ventrally, forming rounded semi-circular shape, slightly wider than long. Gena slightly exceeding diameter of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance slightly exceeding diameter of lateral ocellus, vertex behind ocellar triangle weakly shining, densely punctate, punctures separated by 0.5-1 puncture diameters. Foveae broad, occupying almost entire space between compound eye and lateral ocellus, ventrally slightly narrowing at level of antennal insertions; foveae filled with white hairs ( Figure 4 ). Frons covered with dense longitudinal striations, underlying integument punctate, punctures separated by 1-2 puncture diameters, partially obscured by overlying network of striations. Face, gena, frons, and scape with short white hairs, none approaching length of scape. Antennae dark, A5-12 ventrally lightened by presence of brownish-orange scales. A3 clearly exceeding length of A4+5, slightly shorter than A4+5+6.

Mesosoma: Scutum and scutellum polished and shining over majority of surface, with weak shagreenation only in apical ¼ of scutum ( Figure 5 ); surface irregularly punctate, punctures separated by 0.5-2 puncture diameters. Pronotum with weak but distinct humeral angle. Mesepisternum with fine reticulation, weakly shining. Dorsolateral parts of propodeum reticulate, some reticulation forming weakly raised latitudinal ridges; propodeal triangle weakly defined by lateral carinae, internal surface covered with raised reticulation, not strongly differentiated from dorsolateral parts of propodeum; medially with distinct longitudinal impression. Mesepisternum with whitish hairs; scutum and scutellum laterally with shorter whitish hairs, hairs slightly thickened but not squamous. Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsal fringe very sparse, composed of very weakly plumose white hairs, internal surface with short simple white hairs. Legs dark basally, tarsi and hind tibiae lightened orange, pubescence light brown. Flocculus weak, composed of white plumose hairs; femoral and tibial scopae with white simple hairs. Hind tibial claws with small inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma and venation orange, nervulus antefurcal.

Metasoma: Terga extensively red-marked ( Figure 6 ), red markings present on T1 (apical half), T2 (entirely with exception of two small black spots laterally), T3 (entirely to predominantly), and T4 (laterally). Terga with very faint sculpture, more or less polished and shining, tergal discs punctate, punctures separated by 0.5-2 puncture diameters, marginal areas more sporadically punctate, punctures separated by 0.5-3 puncture diameters. Terga with scattered short whitish hairs; apical fringe of T5 composed of golden hairs overlain by longer white hairs, hairs flanking pygidial plate golden. Pygidial plate triangular with narrowly truncate apical margin and raised margins laterally, internal surface with strongly elevated triangular area medially.

Male. Unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: North-eastern Kyrgyzstan.

D e r i v a t i o n o m i n i s: Feminine singular nominative form of the Latin adjective sanguineo meaning ‘blood-stained’, in reference to the red-marked metasoma. O t h e r m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: ( A. aff sanguinea ): Kyrgyzstan: vlakte bergen riv.

Teyeksu [35 km E Bokonbayevo], 42.0761 oN, 77.3781 oE, 17.vii.2019, 1♀, leg. M. Jacobs & K.

Janssen, coll. T.J. Wood.

Figures

Figs 1-6: Andrena (Habromelissa) sanguinea nov.sp. female (1) profile; (2) face, frontal view; (3) clypeus detail, frontal view; (4) frons and vertex, dorsofrontal view; (5) scutum, dorsal view; (6) terga, dorsal view.