Andrena invisibilis Wood 2023, nov.sp.
Creators: name: Wood, Thomas
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Andrenidae
Andrena
Andrena invisibilis

description: Andrena (incertae sedis) invisibilis nov.sp. (Figs 27-32)   
 M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Holotypes: Kyrgyzstan: Alish, W from Narin [Naryn], 2000-2500 m, 41.4254 oN, 75.8580 oE, 26.vii.1991, 1♀, leg. S. Bečvář, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz; Paratypes: Kyrgyzstan: Alish, W from Narin [Naryn], 2000-2500 m, 26.vii.1991, 3♀♀, leg. S. Becvar, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz / coll. T. J. Wood.   
 D i a g n o s i s. Andrena invisibilis is also part of the undescribed subgenus best referred to as the relata -group. This group is incompletely characterised, but can predominantly be recognised by the relatively short and compact head with the fore margin of the clypeus slightly raised and forming a ‘]’ shape (Figures 28-29), by the ovoid metasoma (Figure 26), and the lack of any distinctive derived characters. Given these problems of recognition, it is best recognised by diagnosis against its most morphologically similar species which is A. hibernica WARNCKE, 1975 (Turkey, newly reported for Jordan), specifically A. hibernica caucasica WARNCKE, 1975 (Turkey, Azerbaijan, newly reported from Turkmenistan). Both species differ from some of the species placed in the relata - group because the propodeal triangle is not weak and poorly defined due to being smooth, but instead is covered with reticulation (Figure 31). Andrena invisibilis can be separated by its dense scutal punctures, punctures separated by 0.5-1 puncture diameters (Figure 30; in A. hibernica caucasica with punctures sparser and more irregular, separated by 1-3 puncture diameters), by it relatively sparsely punctate terga, punctures separated by 1-2 puncture diameters (Figure 32; in A. hibernica caucasica with tergal punctures much denser, punctures separated by 0.5-1 puncture diameters), and by its relatively shorter clypeus that only slightly exceeds a line drawn between the lower margins of the compound eyes, the surface of the clypeus evenly punctate, without a longitudinal impunctate mid-line (in A. hibernica caucasica with the clypeus more elongate, more clearly exceeding a line drawn between the lower margins of the compound eyes, the surface of the clypeus with a clear, weakly elevated longitudinal impunctate mid-line).   
D e s c r i p t i o n.  
Female. Body length: 9 mm (Figure 27). Head: Dark, 1.4 times wider than long (Figure 28). Clypeus weakly domed evenly and densely punctate, punctures separated by 0.5-1 puncture diameters, interspaces weakly shining. Fore margin of clypeus distinctly upturned, forming shallowly rounded semicircle (Figure 29). Process of labrum trapezoidal, slightly broader than long, apical margin truncate. Gena slightly exceeding diameter of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance 1.5 times diameter of lateral ocellus. Foveae occupying slightly less than ½ space between compound eye and lateral ocellus; foveae filled with light brown hairs. Face, gena, vertex, and scape covered with dense whitish hairs, becoming light brownish on gena posteriorly, none equalling length of scape. Antennae dark, A5-12 ventrally lightened by presence of grey scales. A3 subequal to A4+5.  
Mesosoma: Scutum and scutellum densely punctate, punctures separated by 0.5-1 puncture diameters, underlying surface smooth and shining over majority of area, anteriorly shagreened (Figure 30). Pronotum more or less rounded, with at most obscure faint humeral angle. Mesepisternum and dorsolateral parts of propodeum reticulate, forming dense network of raised reticulation; propodeal triangle finely delineated laterally by raised carinae, internal surface with sparser network of raised reticulation, not strong differentiated from dorsolateral parts of propodeum (Figure 31). Mesepisternum ventrally with long whitish hairs, becoming light brownish dorsally, hairs not equalling length of scape. Scutum, scutellum, and propodeum dorsally with light brownish hairs. Propodeal corbicula incomplete, dorsal fringe strong, composed of long whitish plumose hairs, internal surface with long white simple hairs. Legs dark, tarsal segments apically lightened brownish, pubescence whitish to light brownish. Flocculus moderately weak, composed of white plumose hairs; femoral and tibial scopae composed of white simple hairs. Hind tibial claws with strong inner tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma and venation orange, nervulus interstitial.  
Metasoma: Tergal discs dark, tergal margins narrowly lightened hyaline-brown (Figure 32). Terga with weak sculpture, more or less polished and shining; terga punctate, punctures separated by 1-2 puncture diameters. Tergal discs with moderately long scattered light brownish hairs, T1 long hairs forming weak loose apical hair fringe, T2-4 with dense narrow apical hair fringes, hairs obscuring underlying surface. Apical fringe of T5 medially and hairs flanking pygidial plate whitish golden. Pygidial plate triangular with rounded apex, lateral margins weakly raised, medially with raised triangular area.  
Male. Unknown.  
D i s t r i b u t i o n: Central Kyrgyzstan.  
 D e r i v a t i o n o m i n i s: Feminine singular nominative form of the Latin adjective invisibilis meaning ‘invisible’, in reference to its lack of discovery or recognition by previous authors.   
 O t h e r m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d (Andrena hibernica WARNCKE, 1975): Jordan: 30 km N Tafila [At-Tafilah], 2.v.1996, 1♀, leg. Ma. Halada, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz; Jordan: Petra, 800 m, 28.ii-4.iii.1986, 1♀, leg. K.M. Guichard, coll. Natural History Museum, London; Turkey: Yeşilhisar, 27.v.1972, 1♀, leg. K. Warncke, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz (holotype); Turkey: 60 km E Birczik [Birecik], 2.v.1994, 1♀, leg. K. Deneš, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz; Turkey: Maras [Kahramanmaraş] 700 m, 2.vi.1983, 2♀♀, leg. leg. K. Warncke, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz; Turkey: Silifke, Goksu [Göksu] Canyon, 25.iv.2015, 1♀, leg. M. Snižek, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz; (Andrena hibernica caucasica WARNCKE, 1975): Azerbaijan: Araxesthal [near Ordubad], 1890, 1♁, leg. Reitter, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz (holotype); Turkey: Harpost Turkey 15-20 July [strikethrough present on collecting label] 1919, 1♀, L.H. MacDaniels, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz (paratype); Turkey: 110 km E Mardin, Hasankeyf, 9.v.2002, 1♀, leg. F. Kantner, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz; Turkmenistan: Firjuza-Vanovski, 23-26.iv.1989, 1♁, leg. S. Bečvář, coll. Biologiezentrum Linz.
description: Published as part of Wood, Thomas, 2023, New Andrena species from Central Asia (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae), pp. 355-371 in Linzer biologische Beiträge 55 (1) on pages 366-368, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10787859