Ovandrena 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 Ovandrena subgen. nov.

Type species.

Andrena oviventris Pérez, 1895.

Diagnosis.

Through the combination of slightly upturned fore margin of the clypeus, broad fovea occupying at least 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), 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 Blandandrena relata -group and to Blandandrena that were formerly lumped together under the subgenus Blandandrena Poliandrena (see above).

In the female sex, Ovandrena species differ from these groups by only a single major character: the structure of the propodeal triangle (Fig. 45A, B ). Ovandrena species have scutal hairs that are not as short and clearly squamous as in members of the Aenandrena , Limbandrena , or Lepidandrena Hedicke, 1933, but they are partially squamous in some species (Fig. 45C, D ), whereas the scutal hairs in the Andrena relata -group and Blandandrena are typically simple, though in some species such as A. corax the hairs can be semi-squamous. The structure of the propodeal triangle is therefore the only character that allows consistent separation. In Ovandrena , the propodeal triangle is a broad and well-defined triangle (lateral margins extending almost to the lateral edges of the metanotum) that is defined by raised carinae; the internal surface is covered in raised irregular carinae of a similar width, therefore appearing homogenous and consistent (Fig. 45A, B ). In the Andrena relata -group and Blandandrena , the propodeal triangle varies from smooth and undefined to weakly defined with at most irregular rugosity on its internal surface, but never approaches the condition in Ovandrena . The combination of these two characters therefore always allows recognition. They can also be partially recognised by the extremely dense and fine punctation of the terga, punctures separated by <0.5 puncture diameters; in comparison groups, the punctures are never this fine or this dense.

Males can be recognised through their combination of dark clypeus with upturned fore margin, distinctive propodeal triangle as in the female sex, pronotum with weak or strong humeral angle, A3 exceeding A4 but shorter than A4+5, and genital capsule which is compact with pronounced and rounded gonocoxal teeth (Fig. 45E, F ). Members of the Andrena relata -group often have a yellow-marked clypeus, but for species showing a dark clypeus (e.g. A. corax ), the clearly defined triangular propodeal triangle allows separation (smooth to at most weakly defined in the Andrena relata -group). Separation can be made from Blandandrena by the genital capsule and the propodeal triangle, as detailed in the diagnosis section for that subgenus.

Description.

Small to moderately sized bees (7-11 mm) typically with dark integument, one species with red tergal markings; male clypeus always dark. Head broad, 1.3-1.4 times broader than long, compound eyes with inner margins weakly converging apically. Gena slightly exceeding width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance short, slightly less than to slightly more than diameter of lateral ocellus. Facial fovea moderately broad, occupying ½ distance between lateral ocellus and compound eye. Female scutum, scutellum, and metanotum covered with shortish light brown to whitish semi-squamous hairs (Fig. 45C, D ). Pronotum laterally with weak to strong humeral angle. Dorsolateral surface of propodeum with regular and dense network of raised reticulation; propodeal triangle wide, lateral margins extending almost to lateral edges of metanotum, laterally defined by straight raised carinae, thus strongly triangular (Fig. 45A, B ). Internal surface of propodeum covered by raised irregular carinae of a similar width, therefore homogenous and consistent. Forewing with nervulus interstitial to weakly antefurcal. Hind tibial spurs simple, not broadened basally or medially. Terga densely punctate, in females punctures extremely dense and fine, separated by <0.5 puncture diameters, in males punctures slightly sparser and coarser, separated by 0.5-1 puncture diameters. Male genital capsule compact, consistent across species, with gonocoxae strongly produced into apical rounded teeth (Fig. 45E, F ). Gonostyli apically spatulate, with a more or less strongly raised inner margin. Penis valves basally narrow or moderately broad, in both cases becoming narrow medially.

Etymology.

The name is taken from the type species for the genus, A. oviventris . It derives from the Latin ovum meaning egg, in reference to the egg-shaped metasoma. The gender is feminine.

Included species.

Andrena farinosa Pérez, 1895 (Spain and France), Andrena farinosoides Wood, 2020 (Morocco), Andrena marsae Schmiedeknecht, 1900 (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), and Andrena oviventris (Morocco, Algeria, Portugal, Spain, France). The subgenus is therefore currently restricted to the Western Mediterranean, and the centre of diversity is Morocco. The status of A. (incertae sedis) inusitata Pisanty, 2022 must be resolved through genetic analysis (see Pisanty et al. 2022a).

Material examined.

Andrena oviventris : Algeria: Teniet el Had [35.8727°N, 2.0007°E], 1♀, MNHN (lectotype; Fig. 46 ) .

Andrena farinosa : Spain: Murcie [Murcia], 1♀, MNHN (lectotype) .

Figures

Figure 45. Andrena (Ovandrena) subgen. nov. characters. Andrena (Ovandrena) marsae Schmiedeknecht, 1900, female A propodeal triangle; Andrena (Ovandrena) oviventris Perez, 1895 B female propodeal triangle C female scutal hairs, profile view F male genital capsule; Andrena (Ovandrena) farinosa Perez, 1895 D female scutal hairs, profile view E male genital capsule.

Figure 46. Andrena (Ovandrena) oviventris Perez, 1895, female lectotype A label details B profile C face, frontal view D terga, dorsal view.