Andrena (Micrandrena) obsidiana Wood, 2022

Wood, Thomas J., Ismael, Halgurd R., Baiocchi, Daniele, Hamad, Mudhafar I., Bapir, Tahseen T. & Selis, Marco, 2024, A first revision of the Andrena of Iraq (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae), with the description of two new species from Iraqi Kurdistan and additional records from surrounding countries, ZooKeys 1205, pp. 267-298 : 267-298

42. Andrena (Micrandrena) obsidiana Wood, 2022 *

Material examined.

Iraq: Duhok, Mt. Gara [S of Sarsing], 37.0158 ° N, 43.3506 ° E, 1912 m, 11. v. 2023, 15 ♂, 4 ♀, leg. D. Baiocchi, MSVI / TJWC ; Turkey: Hakkâri, pass E of Uludere , 6. vi. 1977, 1 ♂, 2 ♀, leg. K. Warncke, OÖLM / TJWC ; Hakkâri, Tanin-Tanin-Pass , 2500 m, 2. vi. 1980, 3 ♂, 1 ♀, leg. K. Warncke, OÖLM .

Remarks and diagnosis.

Wood and Monfared (2022) described A. obsidiana in the female sex from southern and south-eastern Turkey and western and southern Iran. Numerous male specimens from northern Iraq are now available, as well as some additional specimens from south-eastern Turkey that were not available for study at the time of the original description. One of these A. obsidiana specimens from Turkey (a female) was separated by Warncke and labelled as “ A. ferulella spec. nov. ”, but this name was never published.

Andrena obsidiana can be recognised as Micrandrena due to the small body size, dark integument (including clypeus Fig. 7 B ), entirely rugose propodeal triangle (Fig. 7 D ), and normal genital capsule (Fig. 7 F ). Due to the smooth and shining scutum and scutellum with moderately dense punctures (Fig. 7 C ) and the genital capsule (gonocoxae produced into weak angular teeth, with thickened gonostyli with very small rounded bump on their inner margins, and outer surface lightened and covered with short golden hairs) it is close to A. elam and A. subviridula , but it can instantly be separated from them by the sculpture of the terga which is almost completely smooth and shining (Fig. 7 E ), with only superficial shagreenation at the base of the tergal discs. There are also differences in the genital capsule, with that of A. obsidiana being comparatively more elongate, with the bump on the inner margin of the gonostyli reduced to a relatively tiny projection.

Description.

Male. Body length: 5–6 mm (Fig. 7 A ). Head: Dark, 1.25 × wider than long (Fig. 7 B ). Clypeus domed, densely punctate, punctures separated by <0.5–1 puncture diameter, surface weakly shining. Process of labrum trapezoidal, 2 × wider than long, anterior margin weakly emarginate, surface weakly shining. Gena equalling diameter of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance subequal to diameter of lateral ocellus. Head with sparse whitish hairs, none equalling length of scape; clypeus in fresh individuals with moderate “ beard ” of ventrally projecting pale hairs. Antennae basally dark, A 5–13 ventrally lightened by presence of brownish-grey scales; A 3 exceeding length of A 4, slightly shorter than A 4 + 5.

Mesosoma: Scutum and scutellum polished and shining over almost entire surface, scutum weakly shagreened anteriorly; irregularly punctate, punctures separated by 1–3 puncture diameters, slightly denser on scutum (Fig. 7 C ). Pronotum rounded. Mesepisternum microreticulate, dull. Dorsolateral parts of propodeum microreticulate, dull, sculpture overlain by dense network of raised rugosity; propodeal triangle poorly defined laterally, without clear linear carinae, internal surface densely covered with dense network of rugae, propodeal triangle thus poorly differentiated from dorsolateral parts of propodeum (Fig. 7 D ). Mesosoma covered with sparse whitish to light brown hairs, none equalling length of scape. Legs dark, apical tarsal segments paler dark brown, pubescence whitish. Hind tarsal claws with inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma dark brown, venation orange-brown, nervulus weakly to strongly antefurcal.

Metasoma: Tergal discs dark, marginal areas with apical rim obscurely lightened dark brown (Fig. 7 E ). Tergal discs with weak sculpture, T 1 polished and shining, base of remaining terga with fine shagreen, otherwise smooth and shining. Terga deeply punctate, T 1 with punctures separated by 1–2 puncture diameters, remaining tergal discs with punctures separated by 1 puncture diameter; punctures only partially extending onto marginal areas, becoming weaker on apical terga, marginal area of T 5 almost impunctate. Tergal margins progressively more strongly depressed, weakly on T 1, strongly on T 5. Tergal discs with scattered pale hairs, not forming hairbands. T 6 andT 7 with light brown hairs overlying pseudopygidial plate. S 8 columnar, apical margin rounded, ventral surface with dense fan of short brown hairs. Genital capsule somewhat elongate, gonocoxae with apical margins produced into slightly projecting narrow apical teeth (Fig. 7 F ). Gonostyli robust, thickened, with weak and obscure bump on internal margins basally, apical ½ lightened hyaline yellowish. Penis valves narrow, occupying ½ space between gonostyli, uniformly narrowing towards apex.

Distribution.

Southern and south-eastern Turkey, northern Iraq *, and western and southern Iran ( Wood and Monfared 2022).

Figures

Figure 7. Andrena (Micrandrena) obsidiana Wood, 2022 male A habitus, lateral view B face, frontal view C scutum, dorsal view D propodeum, dorsal view E terga, dorsal view F genital capsule, dorsal view.