Andrena cyrenaica, Kratochwil, 2015

Kratochwil, Anselm, 2015, Revision of the Andrena (Micrandrena) tiaretta group: redescription of A. tiaretta WARNCKE, 1974 and description of two new species (A. cyrenaica nov. sp. and A. orientalis nov. sp.) demarcating the central and eastern part of the range (Libya, Israel, Syria), Linzer biologische Beiträge 47 (2), pp. 1403-1437 : 1412-1413

Andrena cyrenaica nov.sp. ( Libya): differential diagnosis to A. tiaretta s.str. and A. orientalis nov.sp.

The males of the specimens of Libya show in genital morphology evident differences to A. tiaretta s.str. and A. orientalis nov.sp., therefore the morphological features of the female (only one specimen!) are presented, and differences to both other taxa are pointed out. It is necessary to prove the intrapopulation variance of these morphological features in future if more female specimens are available.

The following features of the specimens from Libya differ from those of the specimens from Spain, Morocco, Algeria ( A. tiaretta s.str.) and of the specimens from Israel and western Syria ( A. orientalis nov.sp.):

C o l o u r Head (Fig. 6a): brown in contrast to A. tiaretta s.str. (black) and A. orientalis nov.sp. (black or brown); flagellomeres 3-10 (Fig. 6a): light brown similar to A. orientalis nov.sp.; mandible brown with a reddish tip in contrast to A. tiaretta s.str. (always black with a reddish tip) and A. orientalis nov.sp. (mandible black with a reddish tip or totally reddish). Mesosoma (Fig. 6b): thorax black; femur, tibia, basitarsus and mediotarsi reddish-brown (Fig. 9a) similar to A. orientalis nov.sp.; wing (very) light toned, pterostigma (Fig. 3a) similar to A. orientalis nov.sp.; tergites brown in contrast to A. tiaretta s.str. (black) and A. orientalis nov.sp. (black or brown) with reddish-brown depression zone; T5 translucent, reddish-brown.

P u b e s c e n c e Head (Fig. 6a): genal area, facial fovea and vertex similar to A. orientalis nov.sp. Mesosoma (Fig. 6b): mesoscutum and scutellum, tibial scopa similar to A. orientalis nov.sp.

S t r u c t u r e. No differences.

In summary it can be stated that there are many more similarities in morphological features between Andrena cyrenaica nov.sp. and A. orientalis nov.sp. than between Andrena cyrenaica nov.sp. and A. tiaretta s.str (but see the results of the morphometric analysis). In contrast to A. orientalis nov.sp. no morphological differentiation of females can be detected.