Pseudoanthidium tajikistanicum Kasparek, 2024

Kasparek, Max, 2024, New species, new synonyms, and resurrected taxa: A review of West and Central Palaearctic members of the genus Pseudoanthidium (Apoidea: Megachilidae), Zootaxa 5541 (1), pp. 1-50 : 31

Pseudoanthidium tajikistanicum Kasparek sp. nov.

( Figs 16 , 20 , 22 )

Material examined. Holotype, female, TAJIKISTAN: 50 km S Dushanbe, Chimbulkak vill. (c. 38.09°N 68.80°E), 09.vi.2003, E. Ivanova leg. ( CMK: mk1548) .— Paratypes: 60♀ ex., same data as holotype (CMK: mk1538–mk1547, mk1549–mk1557) (55 ex. in CMK; 1 ex. in ZMB; 3 ex. in coll. Simone Flaminio; 1 ex. in coll. A. Fateryga (O. Pak leg.)) .— Other material: 1♀, same data as holotype (damaged).

Genetic barcode information. No information available.

Efforts to extract DNA from the material for analysis were unsuccessful.

Diagnosis. Characterized by a relatively long scutellum, where the outer edge forms an inverted trapezoid with the outer edge of the axillae. This distinctive shape of the scutellum/axillae is not observed in any other Palaearctic Pseudoanthidium species. Other characteristic traits include coarse tergal punctation, akin to P. puncticolle , and a narrow apical ridge of the clypeus.

Description. Female ( Fig. 18 ). 9 mm.— Head: Black with elongated yellow spot behind the eye; lower paraocular area and occasionally also the lateral parts of the clypeus with a dirty yellow hue ( Fig. 20 ); anterior edge of clypeus somewhat arcuate inwards, almost straight; coarse punctation in the anterior and fine punctation in the posterior half of the clypeus; clypeal ridge protruding, shining; slightly concave, with an uneven surface of the ridge but lacking distinct tubercles.— Mesosoma : Scutum curved upward and shining; punctures spaced up to one puncture diameter apart; outer edge of scutellum and axillae forming an inverse trapezoid, with a broad pale yellow band on outer side and interrupted in the middle; surface polished, with punctures larger and further apart than those on scutum ( Fig. 18c ); pronotal lobe lamellate.— Metasoma: Oval ivory spots present on T1–T5; further apart from the middle on anterior terga than on posterior ones; punctation coarse, with punctures separated from each other up to two puncture diameters; T6 semi-trapezoid in dorsal view, with a grey median apical protrusion; punctation of T6 dense and rugulose ( Fig. 22 ); S6 triangular; scopal hairs grey.— Legs: Trochanteres and basal femora black, remaining reddish brown; outer face of mid and hind basitarsi dark grey.

Male. Not known.

Derivatio nominis. Adjective. Named after Tajikistan, where the type series was collected.

Distribution: Only known from Tajikistan ( Fig. 26b ).

Figures

FIGURE 16. Pseudoanthidium rubellulum Pasteels, 1969. Male from Israel. a. Habitus dorsal; b. Habitus lateral; c. Apical sterna from ventral; d. Head in frontal view.

FIGURE 18. Pseudoanthidium tajikistanicum Kasparek sp. nov. Female from Tajikistan. a. Habitus dorsal; b. Habitus lateral; c. Scutellum and axillae.

FIGURE 20. Face of the female of Palaearctic species of Pseudoanthidium (continued on the following page).

FIGURE 22. Apical terga of females of Palaearctic Pseudoanthidium species.

FIGURE 26. Distribution of selected species of Pseudoanthidium. a. Pseudoanthidium microrubrum sp. nov., P. octodentatum, and P. royoi stat. resurrect. Since the collection site of P. octodentatum in Algeria is not known, a random location was selected; b. Pseudoanthidium ivanovi stat. resurrect., P. obscuratum, and P. tajikistanicum sp. nov.