Andrena (Aciandrena) anathema Pisanty, 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 : 11-14

Andrena (Aciandrena) anathema Pisanty sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–9 )

Female ( Fig. 1 ).

Body length: 5–5.5 mm.

Colour. Head, mesosoma and legs dark brown to black; metasoma brown to black ( Fig. 1 ). Anterior side of flagellomeres 3–10 orange ( Fig. 2 ). Wings hyaline, veins brown, stigma brownish-golden ( Fig. 1 ). Tergal marginal zones yellowish-golden apically, often somewhat reddish ( Fig. 4 ).

Pubescence. Body hair mostly short and sparse, minutely plumose to plumose, whitish ( Fig. 1 ). Clypeus and supraclypeal area with sparse, short and thin, minutely plumose whitish hair. Paraocular area and scape with moderately dense, short whitish plumose hair ( Fig. 2 ). Facial foveae in dorsal view brownish on upper half, whitish on lower half. Vertex with erect, short yellowish plumose hairs ( Fig. 3 ). Genal area with short whitish, minutely plumose hair. Mesonotum, scutellum and metanotum with short whitish to light brown plumose hair, sparse on center of mesonotum and anterior half of scutellum, dense and thick (semi-squamous) peripherally ( Fig. 3 ). Mesepisternum with medium-lengthed minutely plumose white hair. Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsoposterior fringe with long white plumose hair, corbicular surface with few long white simple hairs. Leg hair mostly short, white to light brown ( Fig. 1 ); tibial scopal hair simple, whitish; flocculus incomplete, white. Tergal discs 1–2 hairless, 3–4 with sparse inconspicuous minute whitish hairs. Tergal marginal zones 2–4 with weak bands of short white hair, broadly interrupted on 2–3, continuous but sparser on 4. Terminal fringe golden ( Fig. 4 ).

Head ( Figs. 2–3 ). 1.2 times broader than long. Mandible bidentate. Galea shagreened. Labral process more or less triangular. Clypeus flat, shagreened, occasionally with a small smooth medioapical area, shallowly and finely punctured, distance between punctures 2 puncture diameters, without impunctate midline ( Fig. 2 ). Supraclypeal plate finely shagreened, not striated, finely punctured. Flagellomere 1 slightly shorter than 2+3. Frons finely and shallowly longitudinally striated. Facial foveae tapering downwards, extending from level of middle of lateral ocellus to middle of antennal socket, 0.5 times as broad as antennocular distance ( Fig. 2 ). Distance of fovea from lateral ocellus about 1 ocellus diameter. Ocelloccipital distance 0.5 ocellus diameter. Vertex strongly carinate medially ( Fig. 3 ).

Mesosoma ( Fig. 3 ). Mesonotum and scutellum shiny, weakly but uniformly shagreened, punctation fine and shallow, distance between punctures 1–3 puncture diameters ( Fig. 3 ). Mesepisternum and propodeum finely reticulate. Propodeal triangle delineated by weak carina, basal part somewhat more coarsely sculptured than flanking areas outside triangle. Hind pretarsal claw unidentate. Recurrent vein 1 meets submarginal cell 2 at its proximal 1/3–1/2. Submarginal crossvein 1 meets marginal cell 1–2 vein widths from stigma ( Fig. 1 ). Nervulus distinctly antefurcal.

Metasoma ( Fig. 4 ). Tergal discs shagreened and impunctate. Tergal marginal zones similar, smooth near apex, slightly arched, medially covering 1/3–1/2 of tergum length, 2–4 weakly depressed.

Male ( Fig. 5 ).

Body length: 4.5 mm.

Colour. Similar to female (clypeus and paraocular area dark).

Pubescence. Clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas and scape with moderately dense, short to medium white plumose hair ( Fig. 6 ). Genal area with short greyish-white hair anterodorsally, medium white hair posteroventrally. Mesonotum, scutellum and metanotum with sparse, short to long, white to yellowish minutely plumose hair ( Fig. 7 ). Mesepisternum and propodeum with long plumose white hair. Femora and tibiae mostly with short white to yellowish hair. Tarsi with short white to golden hair ( Fig. 5 ). Tergal discs 2–4 and basal half of 1 with minute inconspicuous white hairs, apical half of 1 almost hairless. Apical half of tergal marginal zones 2–4 with weak, strongly interrupted bands of short white to whitish-golden hairs. Tergal marginal zone 5 with sparse band of medium-lengthed whitish-golden hairs. Terminal fringe whitish-golden ( Fig. 5 ).

Head ( Figs. 6–7 ). Labral process weakly trapezoidal, slightly broader than long, very finely transversely striated, apical margin concave. Clypeus not to weakly protuberant at apical half, flattened, shiny, basal half shagreened, apical half shagreened to smooth, punctation moderate, distance between punctures 1.5–3 puncture diameters, without impunctate midline ( Fig. 6 ). Flagellomere 1 shorter than 2+3, 2 slightly shorter than 3. Rest of head similar to female.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 7 ). Basal part of propodeal triangle finely alveolate, more strongly sculpted than in female. Hind pretarsal claw bidentate. Otherwise similar to female.

Metasoma. Similar to female.

Genitalia and hidden sterna ( Figs. 8–9 ). Dorsal gonocoxite lobes developed, broadly rounded. Gonostylus broadening at 1/3 of its length, blade flattened, of uniform width, apical margin more or less rounded. Penis valves moderately broad basally, gradually tapering towards narrow apex ( Fig. 8 ). Sternum 8 simple, columnar, apical process broadened, blunt-ended ( Fig. 9 ).

Diagnosis. Andrena anathema and the closely related A. (Aciandrena) longistilus sp. nov. are distinguished from most other Aciandrena by the distinctly flattened clypeus ( Figs. 2, 6 , 19, 23 ). As far as we can see, the females of the two species cannot be morphologically differentiated, and were hereby assigned to species based on DNA barcoding ( Table 2 ). Moreover, preliminary molecular data suggests that there may be additional, undescribed Levantine species of very similar morphology (GP, unpublished results). Use of DNA barcoding is therefore essential for validating specimen identity and establishing species boundaries within this difficult taxonomic group. Females of A. anathema and A. longistilus resemble those of A. (Aciandrena) spolata Warncke , but in the latter species the clypeus is flattened to a lesser extent, very slightly convex, and always smooth apically (usually with majority of surface area shagreened in A. anathema and A. longistilus ). Additionally, A. spolata has a narrowly trapezoidal labral process (more triangular in A. anathema and A. longistilus ) and stronger mesonotal punctation. Andrena (Graecandrena) impunctata Pérez possesses a similarly flattened clypeus, but has a larger body size, broadly trapezoidal labral process (triangular in A. anathema and A. longistilus ), striated supraclypeal plate, and narrower facial foveae.

The male of A. anathema closely resembles A. (Aciandrena) israelica Scheuchl & Pisanty and was confused with the latter species, with representatives included in its type series ( Pisanty et al. 2016). Compared to A. israelica , the clypeus and mesonotum of A. anathema are without metallic luster and more distinctly punctured, the clypeus is flattened and often smooth apically (slightly convex and fully shagreened in A. israelica ), flagellomeres 2–11 are reddish to orange (light brown in A. israelica ), the nervulus is more weakly antefurcal, and the terga are more strongly shagreened. The genital capsules of the two species are almost identical; in direct comparison, the dorsal gonocoxite lobe and the base of the gonostylus of A. israelica seem slightly broader.

Distribution: North and central Israel, West Bank, reaching south as far as 31.4°N. Seems to exhibit a vicariance pattern with A. longistilus sp. nov., which occupies drier habitats located further south or east. The two species are sympatric along the Mediterranean-desert transition zone.

Flight period: February–April.

Flower records: Brassicaceae : Erucaria microcarpa . Additionally, undetermined A. anathema / A. longistilus females were collected from Brassicaceae : Erucaria rostrata , Rapistrum rugosum , Sinapis arvensis , and Plantaginaceae : Plantago lagopus .

Holotype: ISRAEL: Horbat Kefar Lakhish , 31.575°N 34.8532°E, 5.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, sweeping, ♂ ( SMNHTAU:358873).

Paratypes: ISRAEL: Adulam-France Park [Ya’ar Adulam], 2013, Y. Berner (1♀) ; Beit Guvrin [Bet Guvrin], 28.iii.2010, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♀) ; Britannia Park [Park Britanya], 11.ii.2011, T. Koznichki, pan trap (1♀) ; Dvir [Devira], 12.iv.2009, L. Friedman (1♂) ( A. israelica paratype label) ; Horbat Kefar Lakhish , 31.575°N 34.853°E, 5.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♂) ; 15.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♂); 31.575°N 34.8532°E, 5.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, sweeping (2♂); Horbat Sheqofa , 31.5775°N 34.871°E, 15.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (4♂) ; Lakhish , 22.ii.2012, T. Shapira, pan trap (1♂) ( A. israelica paratype label) ; 21.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan trap (1♂); 3 km NE, 31.575°N 34.870°E, 4.iii.2016, G. Pisanty (1♂) ( A. israelica paratype label); 31.578°N 34.870°E, 19.ii.2016, G. Pisanty (2♂) ( A. israelica paratype labels); 26.ii.2016, G. Pisanty (1♀, 1♂) ( A. israelica paratype label); Nabi Hazuri , 33.252°N 35.727°E, 27.iv.2020, G. Pisanty (1♀) ; Nahal Maresha , 220 m, 31.577°N 34.858°E, 15.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, sweeping (1♂) ; Sasa , 3.iv.2016, O. Winberger (1♀) ; WEST BANK: Elon More , ‘ En Kefir, 530 m, 17.iii.2015, L. Friedman (1♀) ; Nofei Prat [NofePerat, Kefar Adummim], north-facing slope of Nahal Perat, 27.ii.2007, L. Friedman (1♂) ; Wadi Qelt [Nahal Perat], 31.83°N 35.34°E, 14.iii.2015, G. Pisanty (1♀) ; Za’atara , 6.iii.2015, T. Jumah, on Erucaria microcarpa (1♀) ( ES, OLML, RMNH, SMNHTAU, TJW) .

Etymology. anathema = Greek for “something strongly disliked” in reference to the identification challenges posed by this species. The species epithet is a noun in apposition.

Other material examined (undetermined A. anathema / A. longistilus females): ISRAEL: Adulam-France Park [Ya’ar Adullam], 20.iv.2011, T. Koznichki, pan traps (3♀); Arad, 7.ii.1987, E. Shney-Dor (1♀); Beersheba [Negev, Beer Sheva], 30–31.iii.1961 (3♀); Beit Guvrin [Bet Guvrin], 28.iii.2010, G. Pisanty, pan traps (14♀); Beit Nir [Bet Nir], 28.iii.2010, G. Pisanty, pan traps (8♀ + 1♀ stylopised); Bor Mashash, 25.iii.1987, A. Shlagman (1♀ stylopised); Brittania Park [Park Britannia], 24.iv.2011, T. Koznichki, pan traps (5♀); 26.iii.2015, T. Chaprazaro (1♀); 17.iv.2016. T. Chaprazaro (1♀); [Park Britanya], 7.iv.2010, T. Koznichki, pan trap (1♀); 11.ii.2011, T. Koznichki, pan trap (1♀); Degania Alef [Deganya A], 25.iii.1942, Y. Palmoni (1♀); Dimona, 28.iii.1978, D. Furth (1♀); Dvir [Devira], 12.iv.2009, L. Friedman (3♀); Ein Hajla, Rt. 90, 31°49’N 35°30’E, 16.iii.2004, L. Friedman (1♀); Gal’on, 4.iv.2018, T. Roth (1♀); 2 km NW, 31.649°N 34.837°E, 2.iv.2015, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♀); Ha- Makhtesh HaGadol [Negev, 5 km SE Yeroham, Hamakhtesh Hagadol], 21.iii.1990, R. Leys (1♀); Har Horesha, Rt. 171, 930 m, 2.iv.2014, L. Friedman (9♀); Holot Mash’abbim Nature Reserve [Holot Mash’abbim],], 30.999°N 34.757°E, 10.iii.2017, G. Pisanty (1♀); 30.999°N 34.7575°E, 13.ii.2002, L. Friedman (1♀); 30.999°N 34.7578°E, 13.ii.2002, G. Pisanty, sweeping (1♀); 18.ii.2002, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♀); Horbat Kefar Lakhish, 31.575°N 34.853°E, 5.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♀); 15.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (5♀); 31.575°N 34.8532°E, 5.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, sweeping (4♀); Horbat Sheqofa, 31.5775°N 34.871°E, 15.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (13♀); Kedma [Qedma], 5.iii.2009, G. Pisanty (2♀); Kfar Giladi [Kefar Giladi S], 12.iv.1997, R. Kasher (1♀); 1.5 km N of Kfar Shamai [Kefar Shammay], 650 m, 13.iv.1988, C. O’Toole (1♀); Kfar Shmuel [Kefar Shemuel], 15.ii.1968 (2♀); 25.ii.1968, S. Bleszynski (1♂); 20.iii.1968, S. Bleszynski (1♀); 23.iii.1968, S. Bleszynski (2♀); Kiryat Gat – Beit Kama [Qiryat Gat – Bet Qama], ca. i.2011, I. Van Rijn (5♀); Lakhish, 22.ii.2012, T. Shapira, pan trap (1♀); 23.ii.2012, T. Shapira, pan trap (1♀ stylopised); 21.iii.2012, T. Shapira, pan traps (3♀); 4.ii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (1♀); 18.ii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (1♀); 6.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (2♀); 7.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (1♀); 10.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (1♀); 14.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (1♀); 18.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (1♀); 19.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (6♀); 20.iii.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (2♀ + 1♀ stylopised); 13.iv.2013, T. Shapira, pan traps (2♀); 3 km NE, 31.575°N 34.870°E, 4.iii.2016, G. Pisanty (1♀); 11.iii.2016, G. Pisanty, partly from pan traps (4♀); 31.578°N 34.870°E, 26.ii.2016, G. Pisanty (1♀); 19.iii.2016, G. Pisanty, partly from pan traps (2♀); 31.579°N 34.871°E, 4.iii.2016, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♀) and on Sinapis (1♀); Lehavim, 31.365°N 34.830°E, 28.i.2015, G. Pisanty, partly from pan traps (14♀); 31.370°N 34.8257°E, 7.iii.2015, G. Pisanty, pan traps (6♀ + 3♀ stylopised); Ma’agar Yeroham, 30°59’N 34°55’E, 5.iv.2007, S. Chaviv & N. Greenman (1♀); Mitzpe Ramon [Mizpe Ramon], 30 km SW Har Ramon, 10.iv.1990, K. Warncke (1♀) ( A. avedata paratype label); Nahal Dishon, 1.iv.1991, R. Kasher (1♀); Nahal Gerar, 31.3998°N 34.470°E, 21.i.2015, G. Pisanty, pan trap (1♀); Nahal Maresha, 220 m, 31.577°N 34.858°E, 15.iii.2021, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♀) and sweeping (2♀); Nahal Me’arot, 8.iv.1988, I. Yarom (1♀); Nahal Revivim [N. Rvivim], 4.iv.1988, Y. Zvik (1♀); Nahal Tahmas, 16.iii.1999, L. Friedman (1♀); Nahal Yavne’el spill, 17.iii.1942, Y. Palmoni (1♀); Nahal Ye’elim, 6.iv.1988, F. Kaplan (1♀) & I. Yarom (1♀); Nahal Ye’elim, Rt. 31, 20.iv.2015, L. Friedman (2♀); Nahshon, 25.ii.2009, G. Pisanty (1♀); Northern Negev, 27.iii.2015, G. Pisanty (2♀); Pura Nature Reserve, 31.496°N 34.778°E, 27.iii.2015, G. Pisanty (1♀); 200 m, 31°29.7’N 34°46.8’E, 18.iii.2010, A. Freidberg (1♀); Retamim, 273 m, 31°03’N 34°41.5’E, 3.iv.2009, A. Freidberg (1♀); Revivim, 12.iii.1974, D. Furth (1♀); Sasa, 3.iv.2016, O. Winberger (2♀); Sde Boker [Sde Boqer], 28.iii.1978, D. Furth (2♀); 3 km N [Sede-Boqer], 19.ii.1995, R. Kasher (1♀); 8.iii.1995, R. Kasher (1♀); Shivta, 17.iii.1977, A. Freidberg (3♀ + 1♀ stylopised, 1♂); Shivta Junction, 30.941°N 34.597°E, 16.iii.2020, G. Pisanty, pan traps (2♀); [Holot Shunera], 30.941°N 34.597°E, 17.iii.2017, G. Pisanty (5♀ + 1♀ stylopised); Tel Yeroham [Tel-Jerucham], 25.iii.1959, J. Kugler, on Erucaria microcarpa (2♀); Tell es-Safi [Tel Zafit], 7.iii.2018, T. Roth, on Plantago lagopus (1♀); 31.iii.2018, T. Roth, partly on Rapistrum rugosum (3♀); Yeruham [Kfar-Jerucham], 24.iii.1959, I. Kugler (1♀ stylopised); [Yeroham], 2 km E, 21.iii.1990, R. Leys (1♀); JORDAN: Al-Maghtas, 10.iv.1943, H. BytinskiSalz (1♀); Dana, 3.v.2012, M. Kafka (630♀, 66♂); Kerak env. [Al Karak env.], 6.iv.2013, M. Snižek (2♀); 15 km W Madaba, 760 m, 27.iv.2006, K. Deneš (1♀); SYRIA: 30 km W Palmyra, 580 m, 23.iv.1992, K. Warncke (2♀); 110 km E of Palmyra, 350 m, 21–22.iv.1992, K. Warncke (5♀); WEST BANK: Almog, 10 km S Jericho, – 350 m, 3.ii.1990, R. Kasher, on Erucaria rostrata (1♀); Elon More, ‘En Kefir, 530 m, 17.iii.2015, L. Friedman (1♀); Herodium [Herodyon], 31°40’N 35°14’E, 31.iii.2009, M. Guershon (1♀); Ma’on, 0–1 km S, 750–800 m, 14.iv.2015, L. Friedman (2♀); 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♀); Mehola, Rt. 578, – 177 m, 32°21’48’’N 35°30’49’’E, 27.ii.2020, L. Friedman (2♀); Nofei Prat [NofePerat, Kefar Adummim], north-facing slope of Nahal Perat, 27.ii.2007, L. Friedman (4♀); Ubeidiya, 6.iv.2014, I. Arar, on Sinapis arvensis (1♀ + 1♀ stylopised); Za’atara, 14.iv.2014, I. Arar, on Erucaria rostrata (1♀) (CNC, OLML, RMNH, SMNHTAU, TJW).

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Andrena (Aciandrena) anathema sp. nov. 1. female habitus, 2. female head, 3. female head and mesosoma, 4. female metasoma, 5. male habitus, 6. male head, 7. male vertex and mesosoma, 8. male genitalia, 9. male eighth sternum.

FIGURES 18–26. Andrena (Aciandrena) longistilus sp. nov. 18. female habitus, 19. female head, 20. female vertex and mesosoma, 21. female metasoma, 22. male habitus, 23. male head, 24. male vertex and mesosoma, 25. male genitalia, 26. male eighth sternum.