Andrena (Micrandrena) heliaca Warncke, 1974

Wood, Thomas James, 2023, Revisions to the Andrena fauna of north-western Africa with a focus on Morocco (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 916 (1), pp. 1-85 : 66-69

Andrena (Micrandrena) heliaca Warncke, 1974 stat. nov.

Fig. 36A, C, E, G

Andrena (Fumandrena) pandosa heliaca Warncke, 1974: 41 , ♀ ♂ ( Morocco: OÖLM).

Material examined

Holotype

MOROCCO • 1 ♀; Marruecos, Marraquesh [ Marrakech ]; 1–31 Apr. 1907; Escalera leg.; OÖLM.

Other material

MOROCCO • 1 ♀; Béni Mellal-Khenifra , Khenifra , P7311, immediately W of Lac Ouiouane; 1600 m a.s.l.; 20 May 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 1 ♀; Drâa-Tafilalet , Tazenakht, 1 km W of Anezal; 1600 m a.s.l.; 15 Apr. 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 1 ♀; Drâa-Tafilalet , Tazenakht, 9 km W of Anezal; 1600 m a.s.l.; 15 Apr. 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 2 ♀♀; Drâa-Tafilalet , Tazenakht, Anezal, 5 km NE of Ait Igga; 21 Apr. 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 1 ♀; Fès-Meknès , Ahermoumou , P5407, immediately NW of Kassioua; 900 m a.s.l.; 15 May 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Souss-Massa , Tiznit , Tanalt , oasis between Ait Moussa and Anadia; 22 Mar. 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 1 ♀; Taroudant ; 22 Apr. 1990; Ma. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; 5 km S of Taroudant, Adouer [Adouar]; 2 Apr. 1983; G.R. Else leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; 20 km N of Tafraoute ; 1220 m a.s.l.; 14 Apr. 2017; A. Müller leg.; AMC .

Other material ( Andrena pandosa s. str.)

ALGERIA • 1 ♀; Tiaret; OÖLM (holotype) • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 6 km E of Saida, stn 41; 28 Apr. 1993; R. Leys and P.v.d. Hurk leg.; RMNH • 1 ♀; 10 km NE of Rebahia, Ain el Djorf , stn 39; 27 Apr. 1993; R. Leys and P.v.d. Hurk leg.; RMNH .

JORDAN • 5 ♀♀; 15 km E of Petra ; 26 Apr. 2008; K. Deneš leg.; OÖLM .

MOROCCO • 2 ♀♀; 10 km E of Guelmin ; 15 Apr. 1995; Ma. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; 20 km W Boudnib ; 9 Apr. 1995; Ma. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Anti Atlas , 15 km N of Irherm; 6 Apr. 1983; G.R. Else; NHMUK • 6 ♀♀; Drâa-Tafilalet , Ouarzazate , N9, Ighrem N’Ougdal; 2000 m a.s.l.; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 1 ♀; Drâa-Tafilalet, Tazenakht , 1 km W of Anezal; 1600 m a.s.l.; 15 Apr. 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 14 ♀♀; Drâa-Tafilalet, Tazenakht , 9 km W of Anezal; 1600 m a.s.l.; 15–16 Apr. 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 1 ♀; Drâa-Tafilalet, Tazenakht, Anezal , 5 km NE of Ait Igga ; 21 Apr. 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 3 ♀♀; Fès-Meknès, Aknoul , R510, 500 m S of Tizi Nador; 1300 m a.s.l.; 14 May 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; TJWC • 1 ♀; High Atlas, 19 km S of Tizi-n-Test ( Marrakech-Taroudant Rd); 8 Apr. 1983; G.R. Else; NHMUK • 1 ♂; High Atlas, 3 km N of Ouirgane ( Marrakech-Taroudant Rd); 11 Apr. 1983; G.R. Else; NHMUK .

SPAIN • 6 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Fuerteventura, S Costa Calma , Montañeta de los Verdes ; 1 Apr. 2015; A. Müller leg.; AMC .

SYRIA • 5 ♀♀; 50 km E of Palmyra ; 450 m a.s.l.; 22 Apr. 1992; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; 80 km E of Palmyra ; 450 m a.s.l.; 22 Apr. 1992; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM .

TUNISIA • 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Chenini ; 4 Apr. 1999; K. Deneš leg.; OÖLM • 4 ♀♀; Ksar Hadada ; 5 Apr. 1996; K. Deneš leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; Sbeitla ; 12 Apr. 1998; K. Deneš leg.; OÖLM .

TURKEY • 1 ♀; Birecik / Urfa; 19 Apr. 1984; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM .

WEST BANK • 23 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Judea , Har Gilo; 19 Apr. 1988; R. Leys leg.; RMNH .

Remarks

Warncke described A. pandosa Warncke, 1968 from Algeria, and later described several subspecies from Spain ( ssp. trigona Warncke, 1975 ), Morocco ( ssp. heliaca ), and Libya ( ssp. excelsa Warncke, 1974 ). The species sensu Warncke has a distribution across North Africa, from the eastern Canary Islands to the Levant and southern Turkey, as well as Portugal and Spain ( Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002). While genetic sequences could be generated for all A. pandosa s. str. specimens sampled ( Fig. 3 ), all specimens of A. pandosa heliaca (n= 5, from four localities) failed despite using the same primer, suggesting some change in the COI gene. Sequences of A. pandosa s. str. from Morocco closely matched sequences from the West Bank (ANDIL321-22 and ANDIL351-22; 98.71–99.19%), strongly supporting the position that A. pandosa s. str. does have a distribution encompassing North Africa to the Levant and southern Turkey.

While the statuses of ssp. excelsa and ssp. trigona are obscure and require more focused study, A. heliaca stat. nov. is clearly distinct from A. pandosa s. str. The two species could be found in sympatry west of Anezal near Tazenakht in the Anti-Atlas. Specimens in sympatry showed the same morphological characters typical of each taxon, without introgression. Specifically, A. heliaca is slightly larger ( Fig. 36A ; 8–9 mm versus 6–7 mm in A. pandosa s. str., Fig. 36B ), has the process of the labrum forming a single point ( Fig. 36C ; process of the labrum bidentate in A. pandosa s. str., Fig. 36D ), the scutum and scutellum have extremely weak sculpture and are more or less smooth and shining ( Fig. 36E ; scutum and scutellum with regular granular shagreen in A. pandosa s. str., weakly shining, Fig. 36F ), and the terga are dark, without the apical margins lightened, with weak sculpture, tergal discs clearly and distinctly punctate ( Fig. 36G ; terga with marginal areas broadly lightened hyaline-brown, terga with strong shagreen, tergal discs obscurely punctate, punctures disappearing into the underlying sculpture in A. pandosa s. str., Fig. 36H ).

Based on analysed pollen ( Fig. 1 ), both A. heliaca and A. pandosa s. str. (as well as A. pandosa trigona ) appear to be specialised on Reseda ( Resedaceae ).

Distribution

Morocco, across the Anti-Atlas and High Atlas to the Middle Atlas (near Ahermoumou). Currently not known from Algeria or Tunisia.

Figures

Fig. 36. Andrena (Micrandrena) heliaca Warncke, 1974, ♀ (TJWC). A. Lateral habitus. C. Face, frontal view. E. Scutum, dorsal view. G. Terga, dorsal view. — Andrena (Micrandrena) pandosa Warncke, 1968, ♀ (TJWC). B. Lateral habitus. D. Face, frontal view. F. Scutum, dorsal view. H. Terga, dorsal view.

Fig. 3. Phylogenetic tree (maximum likelihood) of Andrena subgenus Micrandrena Ashmead, 1899 based on the mitochondrial COI gene. Numbers adjacent to branches represent bootstrap support (values of <75 are omitted).

Fig. 8. Andrena (Melanapis) savignyi Spinola, 1838, lectotype, ♀ (MRSN). A. Label details. B. Lateral habitus. C. Face, frontal view. D. Terga, dorsal view.

Fig. 9. Andrena (Melandrena) soror Dours, 1872, neotype, ♀ (OÖLM). A. Label details. B. Lateral habitus. C. Face, frontal view. D. Terga, dorsal view.

Fig. 1. Phylogenetic tree (maximum likelihood) of Andrena subgenus Aciandrena Warncke, 1968 based on the mitochondrial COI gene. Numbers adjacent to branches represent bootstrap support (values of <75 are omitted). Species belonging to the subgenus Graecandrena Warncke, 1968 are marked in different shades of blue, and species belonging to the subgenus Parandrenella Popov, 1958 are marked in grey.