Pseudoanthidium farsiense, 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 : 8

Pseudoanthidium farsiense sp. nov.

( Figs 3 , 20 , 22 )

Material. Holotype. Female. IRAN, Fars prov., 2.5 km SW Haji Abad (29.1855°N 54.1389°E), 1677 m, 04.v.2019, C. Schmid-Egger leg.; COI sequence: ABABX275-21 ( CMK: IR-c04; seg079).

Genetic barcode information. The barcode of the holotype (seg079) is available under number ABABX275-21. BIN is BOLD:AEL4174.

In the barcode analysis, P. microrubrum turned out to be the nearest neighbour, with a barcode gap of 5.2%. This value is identical with the average distance. The next neighbour is P. alpinum with a closest distance gap of 5.5% and an average distance 5.8%. DNA sequences of the closely related P. puncticolle ( Morawitz, 1888) and P. syriacum sp. nov. ( P. alpinum group, see below) are not available.

Diagnosis. T6 semi triangular-shaped (in dorsal view), a feature shared with P. puncticolle , P. microrubrum , and P. syriacum . Punctation of terga fine (rough in P. puncticolle and P. syriacum ), maculation of integument yellow (red in P. microrubrum ; partly reddish in P. puncticolle ), scopal hairs yellow (black in P. microrubrum ), and apical ridge of clypeus little protruding outwards (strongly protruding outwards in P. microrubrum and P. syriacum ). Pseudoanthidium farsiense is conspicuously smaller than P. syriacum (7 mm vs. 9 mm).

Description (female). 7 mm long.— Head: Black except for a bright yellow lower paraocular area, clypeus, and a broad preoccipital band reaching the upper one third of the eye ( Fig. 20 ); clypeus 1.1 times broader than long, with impunctate base and dense punctation across the disc; apical ridge convexly lip-like protruding, with approximately five strong tubercles ( Fig. 3c ); transition zone between disc and apical ridge brown; mandible yellow, gradually changing to brown towards the teeth; five black teeth; antenna black except for reddish-brown sg3- sg5.— Mesosoma : Scutum with dense punctation and narrow, shining ridges between the punctures; broad yellow lateral bands anteriorly; scutellum overhanging propodeum, with a narrow, lamellate, transparent apical margin; yellow laterally and black medially; axilla yellow with some black remnants proximately; pronotal lobe with high anterolateral lamella; omaulus rounded; mesepisternum with long white pubescence.— Metasoma: Lateral yellow bands on terga, becoming closer towards the apex; punctation denser on depressions than on discs; T6 semi triangular in dorsal view ( Fig. 22 ), black with rugulose surface; ventral scopa with long, golden hairs ( Fig. 3b ); S6 triangular with grey hairs.— Legs: Femora black with brown apices; tibiae yellow, inner surface brownish; mid and hind basitarsi blackish; hind basitarsus with short bristles on the inner face.— Wings: Strongly brownish infuscated.

Male. Not known.

Derivatio nominis. Named after Fars, the historical region of southern Iran, where the type material was collected.

Distribution. Iran (Fars province) ( Fig. 27b ).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Pseudoanthidium farsiense Kasparek sp. nov. Female from Iran. a. Habitus dorsal; b. Apical terga and scopa. Note the noticeable long scopal hairs; c. Head, with protruding apical ridge of the clypeus; d. Habitus lateral.

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 27. Distribution of selected species of Pseudoanthidium. a. Pseudoanthidium bytinskii, P. puncticolle, P. syriacum sp. nov., and P. variabile; b. Pseudoanthidium farsiense sp. nov., P. moricei, and P. rhombiferum.