Andrena (Micrandrena) lunaris Pisanty & Wood, 2022

Pisanty, Gideon, Scheuchl, Erwin, Martin, Teresa, Cardinal, Sophie & Wood, Thomas James, 2022, Twenty-five new species of mining bees (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae: Andrena) from Israel and the Levant, Zootaxa 5185 (1), pp. 1-109 : 53-56

Andrena (Micrandrena) lunaris Pisanty & Wood sp. nov.

( Figs. 115–126 )

Female ( Fig. 115 ).

Body length: 6 mm.

Colour. Body black ( Fig. 115 ). Anterior side of flagellomeres 2–10 dark brown to black. Legs brown to black. Wings weakly infuscate, veins and stigma light to dark brown ( Fig. 115 ). Tergal marginal zones dark brown to black ( Fig. 120 ).

Pubescence. Body hair mostly short, white to golden, distinctly plumose ( Fig. 115 ). Clypeus with moderately dense, short and thin yellowish hairs ( Figs. 116–117 ). Paraocular and supraclypeal areas, frons and scape with moderately dense, short to medium, whitish to golden hairs ( Fig. 116 ). Upper half of fovea golden-brown in dorsal view ( Fig. 118 ). Vertex with short to medium golden hairs. Genal area with short golden hairs dorsally, gradually white medium hairs ventrally. Mesonotum and anterior half of scutellum with dense, short and thick golden hairs ( Figs. 118–119 ). Metanotum and posterolateral margin of scutellum with dense, medium-lengthed, thick whitish to golden hairs. Mesepisternum with long whitish to golden hairs. Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsoposterior fringe with long whitish plumose hairs, corbicular surface with few long simple white hairs. Legs with white to golden hairs; scopal hairs simple, whitish; flocculus incomplete, white ( Fig. 115 ). Tergal discs 1–4 laterally with sparse short white hair; medially, 1 almost hairless, 2 and especially 3–4 with minute inconspicuous white hairs. Apices of tergal discs 2–4 with sparse fringes of medium-lengthed white hairs reaching end of marginal zone, interrupted on 2–3, continuous on 4. Tergal marginal zones 2–4 with broadly interrupted, narrow apical bands of dense short white hair, slightly extending onto following tergal disc, thinner and narrower on tergum 4. Prepygidial fimbria whitish laterally, light brown medially; pygidial fimbria light brown ( Fig. 120 ).

Head ( Figs. 116–118 ). 1.2 times broader than long. Mandible bidentate. Galea finely shagreened. Labral process complex, basal half triangular, apical half snout-shaped, weakly protuberant ( Fig. 117 ). Clypeus weakly convex, shagreened, apical margin often smooth, punctation fine, distance between punctures 1–2 puncture diameters, with a broad impunctate midline ( Figs. 116–117 ). Supraclypeal plate, paraocular area and frons strongly longitudinally striated, a strong punctation is developed mainly on lower half of paraocular area and above antennal sockets ( Fig. 116 ). Flagellomere 1 about as long as 2+3. Facial foveae elongate, of moderate, uniform width, extending from level of middle–lower end of lateral ocellus to base of clypeus or slightly above, 0.3 times as broad as antennocular distance ( Figs. 116 , 118 ). Distance of fovea from lateral ocellus 1.5 ocellus diameters. Ocelloccipital distance slightly less than 1 ocellus diameter. Vertex moderately carinate ( Fig. 118 ).

Mesosoma ( Fig. 118 ). Pronotum without elevated dorsolateral angle or lateral carina. Mesonotum finely and very densely punctured, distance between punctures 0–0.5 puncture diameters, anterior part with punctures becoming oblique and blending into shagreenation ( Fig. 119 ). Scutellum similarly punctured, often somewhat shinier ( Fig. 118 ). Mesepisternum finely alveolate, obliquely punctured. Propodeal corbicula finely reticulate, with few very coarse, oblique punctures. Posterior part of propodeum strongly right-angled, posterolateral part rugose-areolate; triangle weakly delineated by shallow carina, basal 1/3–1/2 rugose-areolate, apical 1/2–2/3 finely alveolate, a strong mediobasal carina is sometimes developed ( Fig. 118 ). Hind pretarsal claw bidentate. Recurrent vein 1 meets submarginal cell 2 at its middle or slightly proximal to it. Submarginal crossvein 1 meets marginal cell 1–2 vein widths from stigma. Nervulus slightly antefurcal to interstitial ( Fig. 115 ).

Metasoma ( Fig. 120 ). Tergal discs shagreened, shagreenation decreasing towards apical terga; 1 impunctate, 2–4 finely, very densely and very shallowly punctured, punctation blending into shagreenation and hardly discernible. Tergal marginal zones broad, arched, medially covering 1/2–3/5 of tergal length, impunctate, shagreened to shallowly reticulate, shagreenation decreasing towards apical terga.

Male ( Fig. 121 ).

Body length: 5.5 mm.

Colour. Similar to female.

Pubescence. Facial hair colour variable among individuals, ranging from fully white to predominantly black in some areas of the face, especially the paraocular area and frons( Figs. 121–122 ).Clypeus with dense fringe of mediumlengthed white hairs, extending beyond clypeal apex to about 1/2 of clypeus length ( Figs. 121–122 ). Paraocular area with moderately dense, short to medium, white to black hairs. Scape and area between antennal sockets with dense, medium-lengthed white to mixed black and white hairs. Frons with sparse, short to medium, white to black hairs. Vertex with short white to black hairs and long white to golden hairs. Genal area with short white to black hairs dorsally, gradually medium-lengthed, white ventrally. Mesonotum, scutellum and metanotum with moderately dense, short to medium, white to golden hairs, longer and denser peripherally ( Figs. 121, 123 ). Mesepisternum with long white hairs, sometimes golden dorsally ( Fig. 121 ). Propodeum with long whitish hairs. Legs with white to golden hair. Tergal discs 1–5 laterally and 1 basally with short white to yellowish hair; 1–5 medially with minute inconspicuous bright hair. Apices of tergal discs 2–4 with sparse fringes of medium-lengthed, white to golden thin hairs reaching end of marginal zone, interrupted on 2–3, continuous on 4. Tergal marginal zones 2–4 with broadly interrupted, narrow apical bands of moderately dense short white hair, slightly extending onto following tergal disc ( Fig. 124 ).

Head ( Fig. 122 ). 1.2 times broader than long. Labral process square, apical margin strongly emarginate. Clypeus weakly convex, shagreened to shiny, transversely striated, moderately punctured, distance between punctures 0.5–1 puncture diameters, a narrow impunctate midline is sometimes weakly indicated. Supraclypeal and paraocular areas and frons distinctly rugose. Flagellomere 1 shorter than 2+3, 2 shorter than 3. Ocelloccipital distance 1 ocellus diameter. Vertex carinate.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 123 ). Similar to female, but mesonotal punctation sparser and very shallow, blending into shagreenation, distance between punctures 0.5–1 puncture diameters ( Fig. 123 ).

Metasoma ( Fig. 124 ). Similar to female, tergal marginal zones 2–4 narrower, medially occupying 1/3–1/2 of tergal length.

Genitalia and hidden sterna ( Figs. 125–126 ). Dorsal gonocoxite lobes weakly developed, apices pointed, adjacent to one another. Gonostyli broadening apically, blade flat, rounded. Basal half of penis valves relatively broad, spade-shaped, apical half needlelike ( Fig. 125 ). Sternum 8 simple, columnar, densely and uniformly hairy, weakly broadening apically, apical margin blunt to weakly emarginate ( Fig. 126 ).

Diagnosis. Andrena lunaris is distinguished from other Micrandrena by the combination of the elongate, slightly protuberant, snout-shaped labral process ( Fig. 117 ), and the extremely densely punctate and dull mesonotum covered by relatively dense and thick short hair ( Figs. 118–119 ). The male is easily identified by the unique shape of the genitalia ( Fig. 125 ).

Distribution: North and central Israel, Jordan, Syria, West Bank.

Flight period: February–April.

Flower records: Amaryllidaceae : Allium trifoliatum ; Asparagaceae : Ornithogalum narbonense ; Asteraceae : Glebionis sp. ; Brassicaceae : Diplotaxis erucoides , Sinapis alba ; Orchidaceae : Cephalanthera longifolia .

Holotype: ISRAEL: Montfort , Nahal Kziv [Montfort, Nahal Keziv], 28.ii.2018, G. Pisanty, ♀ ( SMNHTAU:286280).

Paratypes: ISRAEL: Adulam-France Park [Ya’ar Adulam], 20.ii.2013, Y. Berner, on Diplotaxis erucoides (4♂) ; [ Ya’ar Adullam ], 20.iv.2011, T. Koznichki, pan trap (1♀) ; Bar’am , 4.iv.2014, N. Atkin, on Sinapis (1♀) & O. Winberger , on Glebionis and from pan traps (2♀) ; Beit Keshet [Bet Qeshet], 1.5 km NW, 32.74°N 35.38°E, 20.ii.2019, G. Pisanty (3♂) ; Beit Oren [Bet-Oren], 16.ii.1990, R. Kasher (1♂) ; Bnei Dror [Bené Deror], 7.iii.2012, O. Afik, partly from pan traps (4♀, 2♂) ; Buraiqa Nature Reserve [Buraiqa NatReserve], 32.5413°N 34.979°E, 15.ii.2021, G. Pisanty (1♂) ; Dishon , 7.iv.2016, O. Winberger, pan traps (1♀) ; Forest of the Martyrs [Ya’ar Kedoshim], 2.iii.2014, N. Shamir, pan traps (1♂) ; 4.iii.2014, N. Shamir, pan traps (1♂); 6.iii.2014, N. Shamir, pan traps (1♀); 7.iii.2014, N. Shamir, pan traps (1♂); 23.iii.2014, N. Shamir, on Allium trifoliatum (3♀) and Sinapis alba (1♀); 24.iii.2014, N. Shamir, pan traps (1♂); 26.iii.2014, N. Shamir, pan traps (2♀); 30.iii.2014, N. Shamir, pan traps (1♀); 7.iii.2017, Y. Farago, pan traps (1♀); 18.iii.2017, Y. Farago, pan traps (5♀, 1♂); 3.iv.2017, Y. Farago, pan traps (1♀); 16.iv.2017, Y. Farago, pan traps (2♀); Give’at Humera [Humra Hill], 12.iii.2009, A. Dorchin (1♀) ; Goren , 33°02’47.7’’N 35°13’19.8’’E, 25.iii.2021, T. Novoselsky (1♀) ; Haifa, 26.ii.1977, A. Freidberg (1♀) ; 20.iii.1979, A. Dafni, on Cephalanthera longifolia (1♂); Hanita , 27.iii.1976, D. Gerling (1♀) ; Har Karmila , 340 m, 31°47.7’N 35°00.9’E, 27.iii.2011, A. Freidberg (1♂) ; Har Tayyasim , 740 m, 31°46.3’N 35°05.1’E, 27.iii.2011, A. Freidberg (1♀) ; Harutzim [ Harutsim ], 26.ii.2009, A. Dorchin (1♀, 1♂) ; Hirbet Samara , 2.iii.2009, A. Dorchin (5♀, 1♂) ; Horbat Sheqofa , 252 m, 31.5775°N 34.8709°E, 15.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♀) ; Kadima [Qadima], 5.iii.1990, R. Kasher (1♀) ; Kiryat Tiv’on [Tiv’on], 6.ii.1975, H. Bytinski-Salz (1♂) ; Lakhish , 23.ii.2012, T. Shapira, pan traps (11♂) ; 18.ii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (3♂); 6.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (2♀); 15.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (1♂); 18.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (1♀); 19.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (8♀); 2 km E, 31.556°N 34.87°E, G. Pisanty, 5.ii.2016, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♂); 31.5562°N 34.869°E, 4.iii.2016, pan trap (1♀); 31.557°N 34.870°E, 4.iii.2016, pan traps (2♀); 3 km NE, 31.575°N 34.870°E, 11.iii.2016, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♀); 31.578°N 34.870°E, 19.ii.2016, G. Pisanty (1♂); 26.ii.2016, G. Pisanty, partly from pan traps (1♀, 5♂); 31.579°N 34.871°E, 4.iii.2016, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♀); Lehavot HaBashan [Lahavot HaBashan], 1.iii.2018, G. Pisanty (1♀) ; Malkia [Malkiyya], 10.iv.2014, O. Winberger, pan traps (3♀) ; 19.iv.2016, O. Winberger, pan traps (13♀); Me’arat Yishah , 0.5 km E, 32.718°N 35.007°E, 22.ii.2019, G. Pisanty (2♂) ; Mi’ilya–Montfort Road [Meiliya Mt.Fort Rd.], 5.iv.1972, D. Gerling (1♂) ; Montfort , 17.iii.1983, A. Freidberg (1♂) ; 33.045°N 35.225°E, 26.ii.2021, G. Pisanty (1♀, 1♂); [ Monfort ], 4.iii.1976, A. Freidberg (1♀, 2♂) ; 10.iii.1981, F. Kaplan (3♂) & T. Furman (1♂) ; [Montfort, Nahal Keziv ], 28.ii.2018, G. Pisanty (2♀, 10♂) ; Mount Carmel, Hay-Bar , 1 km S University, 25.iii.1990, R. Kasher (2♀) ; Mount Meron , 900 m, 13.iv.1988, I. Yarom (1♂) ; [Har Meron ], 32.9945°N 35.415°E, 5.iv.2016, G. Pisanty (1♀) ; 33.000°N 35.3927°E, 4.iv.2017, G. Pisanty, pan traps (1♀, 2♂); 1000 m, 1.iv.2012, A. Freidberg (1♂); 1100 m, 17.iv.2000, A. Freidberg (1♀); [W.Habiz, Mt. Meron ], 8.iv.1972, A. Kesar (1♂) ; Mount Meron Nature Reserve [Meron NR], 1.2 km SSW Meron Field School, 998 m, 32°59’55’’N 35°23’31’’E, 3.iv.2016, A. Dorchin (1♀) ; Nahal Alexander , 4.iii.2017, K. Levy, pan trap (1♀) ; Nahal Dishon , 1.iv.1991, R. Kasher (2♂) ; Nahal Kziv [Nahal Keziv], 33.0465°N 35.226°E, 26.ii.2021, G. Pisanty (6♀, 23♂) ; 33°02.7’N 35°13.6’E, 5.iii.2008, A. Freidberg (1♂); [W. Habiz, Upper Galilee ], 3.iv.1972, D. Gerling (2♀, 1♂) ; Ness Ziona [Nes Ziyyona], 31.928°N 34.78°E, 13.iii.2015, G. Pisanty (1♀) ; Netanya, Irus Ha’Argaman Nature Reserve [Irus Ha’Argaman NR], 32.287°N 34.842°E, 24.ii.2021, G. Pisanty (2♂) ; Netiv HaLamed-Heh [Netiv Halamed He], 24.ii.2009, G. Pisanty, pan traps (4♂) ; 26.ii.2009, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♂); Ramat HaNadiv , 22.iii.2012, T. Shapira, pan trap (1♀) ; 11.iv.2012, T. Shapira, pan traps (2♀); 12.iv.2012, T. Shapira, pan traps (2♀); 2.iv.2013, T. Shapira, pan trap (1♀); [Hasharon, Zikhron Ya’aqov, Ramas Hanadiv ], 12.iii.1990, R. Leys (2♀) ; [R. Hanadiv], 4.iii.1990, R. Kasher (1♂); Sasa , 1.iv.2014, O. Winberger, pan trap (1♂) ; 29.iv.2014, O. Winberger, pan trap (1♀); 3.iv.2016, O. Winberger, pan trap (1♂); Sheikh Ali , 20 km E Qiryat Gat, 17.iii.1990, R. Kasher (2♀) ; Shoham , 17.iii.2010, L. Friedman (1♀) ; 22.iii.2012, L. Friedman (2♀); Snir, Hermon Field Study Center , 13.iii.1997, R. Kasher (2♀) ; 27.iii.1997, R. Kasher (2♀, 1♂); 30.iii.1997, R. Kasher (1♀); Ya’ar Nehusha [Ya’ar Nehosha], 22.iii.2016, T. Chaprazaro, on Ornithogalum narbonense (1♀) ; Yiftah [Yiftach], 30.iii.2016, O. Winberger, pan traps (1♀) ; Zur Natan , 500 m NE, 32.245°N 35.021°E, 6.iv.2020, G. Pisanty (1♀) ; JORDAN: 10 km N Jerash , 20.iv.2002, M. Snižek (1♀) ; SYRIA: Burg Marqab , 7 km SE Banyas, 16.iv.1992, K. Warncke (36♀, 1♂) ; WEST BANK: Har Kabbir , 700 m, 17.iii.2015, L. Friedman (1♂) ; Kedumim [Qedumim], 20.ii.2006, L. Friedman (1♂) ; Maskiot [Maskiyyot], Rt. 578, Wadi Halat Mahmud el-‘ Ali , – 75 m, 32°19’18’’N 35°29’52’’E, 27.ii.2020, L. Friedman (1♀) ; Nahal Teqoa , 31°38’N 35°14’E, 31.iii.2009, A. Freidberg (1♀) ( ES, NHMUK, OLML, RMNH, SMNHTAU, TJW, ZMHB, ZSMC) .

Etymology. lunaris = Latin for “lunar”, in reference to the sculptuting of the mesonotum which appears to be marked with crater-like punctures, like the surface of the moon. The species epithet is an adjective.

Figures

FIGURES 110–117. Andrena (Micrandrena) herodesi sp. nov. 110. female habitus, 111. female head, 112. female clypeus and labral process, 113. female vertex and mesosoma, 114. female metasoma. Andrena (Micrandrena) lunaris sp. nov. 115. female habitus, 116. female head, 117. female clypeus and labral process.

FIGURES 118–126. Andrena (Micrandrena) lunaris sp. nov. 118. female vertex and mesosoma, 119. female mesonotum, 120. female metasoma, 121. male habitus, 122. male head, 123. male mesonotum and scutellum, 124. male metasoma, 125. male genitalia, 126. male eighth sternum.