Andrena (Ulandrena) discus, Wood, 2023

Wood, Thomas, 2023, New Andrena species from Central Asia (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 55 (1), pp. 355-371 : 359-363

Andrena (Ulandrena) discus nov.sp. ( Figs 7-15 )

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Holotypes: Tajikistan: Vose ,120kmSEDuschanbe, 37.8080 oN, 69.6354 oE, 12-13.v.1991, 1♁, leg. J. Halada, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz ; Paratypes: Tajikistan: Vose , 120 km SE Duschanbe, 12-13.v.1991, 3♁♁, 2♀♀, leg. J. Halada, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz /; coll. T.J. Wood ; Iran: North Khorasan, Bojnurd , 15.v.2018, 1♀, leg. M. Allahverdi, coll. M. Allahverdi, Gorgan ; Iran: Razavi Khorasan, 5 k to Bazangan [5 km E of Bazangan], 20.iv.2018, 1♁, leg. M. Allahverdi, coll. M. Allahverdi, Gorgan ; Turkmenistan: Sandikatzi env. [Sandykgacy], 3- 13.v.1993, 1♁, leg. J. Halada, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz.

D i a g n o s i s. Andrena discus can be recognised as part of the subgenus Ulandrena in the female sex due to the hind tibial spur which is broadened submedially, the lack of a raised latitudinal carina on the posterior face of the hind femur, the extremely dense, fine, and regular punctation of the scutum ( Figure 9 ), the weakly and obscurely plumose hairs of the tibial scopae, and in the male sex due to the extensive yellow facial markings ( Figure 12 ; covering the clypeus and the lower paraocular areas) combined with the genital capsule that has the penis valves broadened, forming a more or less rounded disc ( Figure 15 ).

Its moderate body size (7-8 mm), dark female face ( Figure 8 ; without yellow markings), dark terga with hints of weak metallic green reflections ( Figure 10 ; without red markings), and female hind tibial claws with a clear inner subapical tooth allow the female to be separated from all Ulandrena species currently known from Central Asia, which are either much larger (> 12 mm in length, A. elegans GIRAUD, 1863 , A. fedtschenkoi MORAWITZ, 1876 ), have yellow facial markings ( A. fedtschenkoi , A. eburneoclypeata LEBEDEV, 1929 ),

have red-marked terga ( A. leucorhina MORAWITZ, 1876 , A. mikhaili OSYTSHNJUK, 1982 , A. nesterovi OSYTSHNJUK, 1982 ), or lack an inner subapical tooth on the hind tarsal claws ( A. elegans , A. fedtschenkoi , A. eburneoclypeata , A. mikhaili , and A. nesterovi ).

The genital capsule of the male is unusual since due to the penis valves forming a rounded disc shape ( Figure 15 ) it resembles a form found more commonly in the Mediterranean species, most pertinently A. neocypriaca MAVROMOUSTAKIS, 1956 ( Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria). Andrena discus can be easily separated from A. neocypriaca because the gonostyli are produced into rounded but clearly projecting teeth, whereas in A. neocypriaca the gonostyli are truncate, with their inner margins forming 90 o angles ( Figure 16 ). Additionally, A3-7 of A. neocypriaca also show bulbous projections ventrally, giving the antennae a distinctly serrate appearance in their basal half; all antennal segments are parallel-sided in A. discus .

Finally, A. discus males are very similar in appearance to the males of A. satellita NURSE, 1904 which is known only from the type series collected around Peshin in western Pakistan ( Figures 17-20 ). This species was described only from the male sex, without description of the genital capsule ( NURSE 1904), and none of the inspected specimens at the Natural History Museum, London, had their genital capsule visible. However, the two species can be separated by the antennal ratios. In A. discus , A3 is long, almost equalling the length of A4+5; A4 is short and subquadrate, measured along its ventral surface it is shorter than broad, and clearly shorter than A5, A5-13 all rectangular and longer than broad ( Figure 13 ). In A. satellita , A3 is also long, equalling A4+5, but A4 and A5 are short and subquadrate, at most as long as broad, and A6-13 are only slightly longer than broad ( Figure 19 ).

D e s c r i p t i o n.

Female. Body length: 7-8 mm ( Figure 7 ). Head: Dark, 1.2 times wider than long ( Figure 8 ). Clypeus weakly domed, surface finely microreticulate, weakly shining; surface punctate, punctures with weakly raised rims, separated by 0.5-2 puncture diameters. Clypeus dark over majority of surface, with weak but distinct metallic green reflections along its lateral and dorsal margins. Process of labrum trapezoidal, twice as broad as long, apical margin with faint shallow emargination. Gena slightly exceeding diameter of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance equalling diameter of lateral ocellus. Foveae occupying ½ space between compound eye and lateral ocellus; foveae filled with light whitish-brown hairs. Frons and lower paraocular areas with weak but distinct metallic green reflections. Face, gena, frons, and scape with light whitish-brown hairs, none approaching length of scape. Antennae basally dark, A5-12 ventrally strongly lightened due to presence of orange scales. A3 slightly exceeding A4+5, shorter than A4+5+6.

Mesosoma: Scutum and scutellum extremely densely punctate, punctures almost confluent, separated by <0.5 puncture diameters; interspaces shining ( Figure 9 ). Pronotum rounded. Mesepisternum microreticulate; dorsolateral parts of propodeum more strongly microreticulate, forming network of raised reticulation. Propodeal triangle weakly defined by lateral carinae, internal surface with raised reticulation, not strongly differentiated from dorsolateral parts of propodeum. Mesepisternum with long white hairs, approaching length of scape; scutum and scutellum with very short almost squamous light brown hairs, not obscuring underlying surface. Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsal fringe strong, composed of long plumose light brown hairs, internal surface with occasionally simple yellowish hairs. Legs dark, apical tarsal segments lightened orange, pubescence whitish.

Flocculus strong, composed of white plumose hairs; femoral and tibial scopae with white hairs, those of tibial scopa weakly but distinctly plumose. Hind tibial claws with inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma and venation orange, nervulus interstitial.

Metasoma: Tergal discs dark, with weak hints of metallic blue-green colouration; tergal margins broadly lightened hyaline-white apically to brownish basally ( Figure 10 ). Terga with very weak microsculpture, more or less shining. Terga densely punctate, punctures separated by 0.5-1 puncture diameters. Tergal discs with scattered short hairs, T1-4 with apical hair bands of white hairs, complete in fresh individuals, obscuring underlying surface when fresh.; apical fringe of T5 composed of golden hairs overlain by longer white hairs, hairs flanking pygidial plate golden. Pygidial plate narrowly triangular, apex rounded, surface with weakly raised longitudinal rounded area medially.

Male. Body length: 7-8 mm ( Figure 11 ). Head: Dark, 1.3 times wider than long ( Figure 12 ). Clypeus weakly domed, surface finely microreticulate, weakly shining; surface regularly punctate, punctures separated by 0.5-1 puncture diameter. Clypeus entirely and lower paraocular areas with pale ivory colouration. Process of labrum trapezoidal, twice as broad as long, apical margin with shallow emargination, surface smooth and shining. Gena equalling diameter of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance slightly exceeding diameter of lateral ocellus. Face, gena, frons, and scape with long white hairs, longest slightly exceeding length of scape. Antennae basally dark, A5-13 ventrally strongly lightened due to presence of orange scales. A3 exceeding length of A4, slightly shorter than length of A4+5, A4 subquadrate, slightly shorter than broad, clearly shorter than A5; A5 rectangular, slightly longer than broad, A6-13 clearly longer than broad ( Figure 13 ).

Mesosoma: Scutum and scutellum clearly punctate, punctures separated by 0.5-1 puncture diameters, sparser medially; underlying surface laterally shagreened and dull, medially smooth and shining. Pronotum rounded. Mesepisternum and propodeum structurally as in female. Mesosoma with long white hairs, longest equalling length of scape. Legs dark, apical tarsal segments lightened orange-brown, pubescence whitish. Hind tarsal claws with strong inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma and venation orange, nervulus weakly postfurcal.

Metasoma: Tergal discs dark, with weak hints of metallic blue-green colouration; tergal margins broadly lightened hyaline-white apically to brownish basally ( Figure 14 ). Terga predominantly with weak microsculpture, more or less shining, tergal discs shagreened basally, here dull. Terga punctate, punctures separated by 1-2 puncture diameters. Tergal discs with scattered short hairs; T1-4 with apical hair bands of white hairs, complete in fresh individuals, obscuring underlying surface when fresh. S8 columnar, apical margin truncate with shallow emargination, ventral surface covered with short whitish hairs. Genital capsule moderately elongate, gonocoxae apically produced into rounded projecting teeth, gonostyli apically broadened, flattened, and spatulate, inner margin raised, dorsal surface covered with short golden hairs. Penis valves broad, lateral hyaline extensions forming rounded elongate disc, occupying majority of space between penis valves.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: North-eastern Iran (provinces of North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan), southern Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. Probably present also in northern Afghanistan and southern Uzbekistan.

D e r i v a t i o n o m i n i s: From the Latin discus meaning a disc, in reference to the round shape formed by the penis valves. It is a noun in apposition.

O t h e r m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: ( Andrena satellita NURSE, 1904 ): Pakistan: Peshin, iv.[19]03, 1♁, leg. C.G. Nurse, coll. Natural History Museum, London (syntype; Figures 17-20 ) .

Figures

Figs 7-10: Andrena (Ulandrena) discus nov.sp. female (7) profile; (8) face, frontal view; (9) scutum, dorsal view; (10) terga, dorsal view.

Figs 11-16: Andrena (Ulandrena) discus nov.sp. male (11) profile; (12) face, frontal view; (13) antennae detail, frontal view; (14) terga, dorsal view; (15) genital capsule, dorsal view. Andrena (Ulandrena) neocypriaca nov.sp. male (16) genital capsule, dorsal view.

Figs 17-20: Andrena (Ulandrena) satellita NURSE, 1904 male syntype (17) label details; (18) profile; (19) face, frontal view; (20) terga, dorsal view.