Andrena (Micrandrena) anammas, Wood, 2023

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 : 48-50

Andrena (Micrandrena) anammas sp. nov.

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Fig. 28

Diagnosis

Andrena anammas sp. nov. can quickly be recognised as a member of Micrandrena due to its small body size ( Fig. 28A ), dark integument, and entirely rugose propodeal triangle. Due to the comparatively (for a Micrandrena ) long face and clypeus ( Fig. 28B ; head overall only 1.1 times as wide as long), narrow facial fovea (dorsally occupying ¼ of space between the lateral ocellus and the compound eye, consistently wide along its length), and densely punctate scutum ( Fig. 28C ; punctures separated by <1 puncture diameter) they are comparable to A. atlantea Wood, 2021 (High and Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco) and A. ortizi ( Spain, Sierra Nevada). Andrena anammas can be separated from A. atlantea (with which it can be found in direct sympatry) by the stronger sculpture of the scutum and terga, these areas with clear microreticulation and at most weakly shining (in A. atlantea with sculpture of the scutum and terga weaker, more strongly shining). Due to this stronger sculpture, the punctation of the tergal discs is weak and obscure ( Fig. 28D ), whereas in A. atlantea it is more clearly visible against the underlying sculpture. Specimens of Andrena anammas are also slightly smaller (6 mm versus 7.5–8 mm).

Finally, A. anammas sp. nov. is most similar to A. ortizi , which measures 7 mm in length. The two species can be separated by the width of the tergal margins; in A. anammas , the tergal margins occupy at most ⅓ of the disc of T2 and ½ of the discs of T3–4, whereas in A. ortizi the marginal areas occupy at least ½ of the disc of T2 and over ½ of the discs of T3–4. Additionally, in A. anammas the discs of T2–3 are obscurely punctate, with punctures disappearing into the background microreticulation ( Fig. 28D ), whereas in A. ortizi they are strongly and densely punctate (see figures in Wood 2023).

Etymology

Named after the Amazigh (Berber) name for the Middle Atlas (Atlas Anammas). It is a noun in apposition.

Material examined

Holotype

MOROCCO • ♀; Fès-Meknès , Ifrane , P7231, 2 km NE of Michlifen; 1900 m a.s.l.; 33.4323° N, 5.0629° W; 24 May 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; BOLD: WPATW685-22 ; OÖLM.

Paratype

MOROCCO • ♀; Fès-Meknès, Azrou , P 7217, 10 km S of Azrou; 1800 m a.s.l.; 18 May 2022; T.J. Wood leg.; BOLD: WPATW686-22 ; TJWC.

Other material (identified as Andrena atlantea ; see also Wood 2021)

MOROCCO • 1 ♀; same collection data as for paratype; BOLD: WPATW551-22 ; TJWC .

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 6 mm ( Fig. 28A ).

HEAD. Dark, 1.1 times as wide as long ( Fig. 28B ). Clypeus elongate, not much broader than long, apically distinctly exceeding lower level of compound eyes, evenly domed, with large punctures, punctures separated by 1–2 puncture diameters; underlying surface medially and basally with granular microreticulation, weakly shining, apically more strongly shining. Process of labrum narrow, rounded, as long as broad. Gena equalling width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance 0.5 times diameter of lateral ocellus. Foveae narrow, occupying ⅓ of space between lateral ocellus and compound eye, very slightly narrowing ventrally at level of antennal insertions; foveae filled with whitish hairs. Face, gena, vertex, and scape with white hairs. Antennae dark, A3 equalling or very slightly exceeding length of A4+5.

MESOSOMA. Scutum and scutellum with granular microreticulation, weakly shining, regularly punctate, punctures separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameter ( Fig. 28C ). Pronotum rounded. Mesepisternum with strong granular microreticulation, dull. Dorsolateral parts of propodeum with granular microreticulation overlain by additional network of raised reticulation. Propodeal triangle laterally delineated by raised carinae, internal surface with pattern of strongly raised rugae, interspaces shining. Mesepisternum laterally with whitish hairs, scutum and scutellum with shorter whitish hairs. Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsal fringe composed of whitish plumose hairs, internal surface with long, white simple hairs. Legs dark, pubescence brownish. Flocculus incomplete, composed of plumose hairs; flocculus, femoral scopae, and tibial scopae composed of white simple hairs. Hind tarsal claws with inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma dark brown to black, venation dark brown, nervulus interstitial.

METASOMA. Terga dark, apical margins at most with apical rims narrowly and obscurely lightened dark brown ( Fig. 28D ). Tergal margins relatively broad, on T2 occupying ⅓ of visible segment, on T3–4 occupying slightly more than ½ of visible segment. Tergal discs microreticulate, weakly shining, obscurely punctate, punctures disappearing into underlying sculpture, separated by 1–2 puncture diameters. T2–4 laterally with narrow apical hair fringes on apex of tergal margins, obscuring underlying surface, broadly interrupted medially. Apical fringe of T5 and hairs flanking pygidial plate dark brown, hairs of T5 laterally overlain by long white hairs. Pygidial plate rounded triangular, medially with elevated longitudinal midline, surface with obscure punctures.

Male

Unknown.

Remarks

The species was collected from small Alyssum ( Brassicaceae ) flowers in subalpine habitats.

Distribution

High altitude sites in the Moroccan Middle Atlas (Azrou, Ifrane).

Figures

Fig. 28. Andrena (Micrandrena) anammas sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (OÖLM). A. Lateral habitus. B. Face, frontal view. C. Scutum, dorsal view. D. Terga, dorsal view.