Andrena (Notandrena) baiocchii Wood, 2024

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

10. Andrena (Notandrena) baiocchii Wood , sp. nov. *

Material examined.

Holotype: Iraq: Duhok, Mt. Gara [S of Sarsing], 37.0158 ° N, 43.3506 ° E, 1912 m, 11. v. 2023, 1 ♀, leg. D. Baiocchi, RMNH . Paratypes: Iraq: Same information as holotype, 5 ♀, MSVI / RMNH / TJWC / DUMAI .

Diagnosis.

Andrena baiocchii can be recognised as part of the subgenus Notandrena Pérez, 1890 due to the dorsolateral angle of the pronotum with a strong transverse ridge (= pronotum with a strong humeral angle), dull impunctate terga (Fig. 4 F ; hence placing it closer to members of the former subgenus Carandrena Warncke, 1968 ), scutum with distinct but weakly shining to dull green-purple metallic reflections (Fig. 4 D ), hind tibiae which weakly but distinctly broaden medially and apically, resembling a crude isosceles triangle and covered with simple scopal hairs, and lack of any other distinctive characters. This combination of characters places it close to A. schlettereri Friese, 1896 (Central Europe to Turkey), A. purpureomicans Alfken, 1935 ( Turkey), A. trimarginata (Radoszkowski, 1886) (= A. zostera Warncke, 1975 ; Middle East and Central Asia, see below), and A. aerinifrons Dours, 1873 sensu lato ( Iberia, North Africa, and the Middle East). Andrea baiocchii can be separated from all these comparison species by the shape of the head which is almost round, only 1.1 × wider than long (Fig. 4 B ; in comparison species is the head shorter, 1.2–1.4 × wider than long) and the clypeus has contrasting surface sculpture, shagreened and weakly shining basally but becoming smooth and shining in its apical half AND with punctures becoming sparse, in the apical 1 / 3 of the clypeus with punctures separated by 1–3 puncture diameters (Fig. 4 C ). In comparison species the clypeus usually has a uniform sculpture, typically dull, never smooth and shining in its apical half (with the exception of A. trimarginata ) and the clypeal punctures are consistently denser. Andrena trimarginata can be separated by the overall shape of the head (clearly wider than long) and by the density of clypeal punctures which are separated by a consistent 0.5–1 puncture diameters over the entire surface of the clypeus. Some individual species can also be separated with additional characters, as A. baiocchii has a small body size of 7–8 mm (usually 8–9 mm in A. aerinifrons ), the propodeal triangle has a network of finely raised rugae covering ¾ of its surface (Fig. 4 E ; surface smooth in A. aerinifrons ), and the tarsi are dark and the terga are completely impunctate (with the tarsi lightened orange and the terga with shallow but distinct punctures in A. purpureomicans ). The male is unknown, but is expected to share the relatively elongate head which is unusual within this group of species.

Description.

Female. Body length: 7–8 mm (Fig. 4 A ). Head: Dark, 1.1 × wider than long (Fig. 4 B ). Clypeus domed, variably sculptured, in basal ½ with fine granular shagreen, weakly shining, in apical ½ smooth and shining, polished; surface punctate, punctures separated by 1–3 puncture diameters (Fig. 4 C ). Process of labrum small, rounded trapezoidal, 2 × wider than long, apical margin weakly emarginate. Gena marginally exceeding diameter of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance equals ½ diameter of lateral ocellus. Foveae dorsally occupying slightly <½ space between compound eye and lateral ocellus, slightly narrowing ventrally, separated from inner margin of compound eye by distance subequal to its own diameter; foveae filled with brown hairs. Face, gena, vertex, and scape with sparse light brown hairs, none equalling length of scape. Antennae basally dark, A 5–12 ventrally lightened by presence of grey-orange scales; A 3 slightly exceeding A 4 + 5, slightly shorter than A 4 + 5 + 6.

Mesosoma: Scutum and scutellum with dense fine granular microreticulation, weakly shining to dull, laterally and anteriorly with weak but distinct green-purple metallic reflections; surface irregularly and obscurely punctate, punctures separated laterally by 1–3 puncture diameters, medially by 3–5 puncture diameters (Fig. 4 D ). Pronotum with strong humeral angle. Mesepisternum and dorsolateral parts of propodeum with dense granular microreticulation, dull; propodeal triangle delineated by change in surface sculpture, predominantly covered with finely raised rugae over ¾ of its surface (Fig. 4 E ). Mesosoma with light brown hairs, longest on mesepisternum, not equalling length of scape. Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsal fringe composed of long plumose light brown hairs, internal surface with scattered light brown hairs. Legs predominantly dark, apical tarsal segments lightened brownish, pubescence light brown. Flocculus complete but relatively sparse, composed of light brown plumose hairs; femoral and tibial scopae composed of light brown-golden simple hairs. Hind tarsal claws with very small inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma bright orange, venation dark orange, nervulus antefurcal.

Metasoma: Terga dark, apical margins weakly but distinctly depressed, partially lightened brown; tergal discs with regular granular microreticulation, weakly shining, essentially impunctate, with very weak and sparse punctures disappearing into background sculpture (Fig. 4 F ). Terga with scattered short white hairs, not forming apical hairbands. Apical fringe of T 5 and hairs flanking pygidial plate orange. Pygidial plate large, broadly rounded triangular, lateral margin weakly raised and impunctate, internal surface densely punctate, punctures separated by <0.5 puncture diameters.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology.

The species is named after Daniele Baiocchi who has collected insects across much of the Mediterranean basin and Middle East, and who led bee collection during the expedition to Duhok Governorate in May 2023.

Distribution.

Iraq (Kurdistan region).

Figures

Figure 4. Andrena (Notandrena) baiocchii sp. nov. female A habitus, lateral view B face, frontal view C clypeus, frontal view detail D scutum, dorsal view E propodeum, dorsal view F terga, dorsal view.