Further revisions to the Palaearctic Andrena fauna (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)
Author
WOOD, T. J.
text
Zootaxa
2024
2024-07-22
5483
1
1
150
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5483.1.1
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.5483.1.1
1175-5334
AF0272DB-5588-411D-9EAE-DED4785BF170
Andrena
(
Melanapis
)
fuscosa
Erichson, 1835
Andrena fuscosa
Erichson, 1835: 103
,
♂
[
Spain
, ZMHB, examined]
Andrena cussariensis kohatensis
Cockerell, 1917: 283
,
♀
[
Pakistan
, USNM, photograph examined]
syn. nov.
Remarks.
Andrena fuscosa
is a widespread and highly variable species found in both the West and Central Palaearctic to northern
India
. Genetically, specimens from northern
India
differ in their COI barcode sequence by only around 1% from specimens from
Spain
, the
locus typicus
(
Wood 2023b
). Due to high morphological variation, many synonyms have been described (e.g.
Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002
;
Wood 2023c
), but a broad interpretation is currently followed (
Wood 2023b
).
Cockerell (1917)
described new species from
British India
, from what is now modern
Pakistan
. Among these was
A. cussariensis kohatensis
that Cockerell indicated (based only on the description) was close to
A.
(
Melandrena
)
cussariensis
Morawitz, 1886
, but closer to
A. ephippium
Spinola, 1838
(=
A. fuscosa
, see
Wood 2023c
). For reasons unknown, he described Pakistani material as
A. cussariensis kohatensis
. Examination of type photographs shows that
A. cussariensis kohatensis
is clearly a junior synonym of
A. fuscosa
due to the presence of a rugose-areolate propodeal triangle (hence clearly not part of the subgenus
Melandrena
Pérez, 1890
), ovoid and densely punctate metasoma, dark integument with partial red markings on the scutum and scutellum, dark infuscate wings, and short tight scopal hairs. The specimen in the USNM is likely automatically the
holotype
since Cockerell only described the female, and did not indicate that there were additional specimens. There are no confirmed records of true
A.
(
Melandrena
)
cussariensis
from
Pakistan
, with a current south-eastern range limit in northern
Iran
and Central Asia (
Wood & Monfared 2022
).
Material examined.
SPAIN
:
Andalucia
, [undated],
1♂
,
ZMHB
(
holotype
/
syntype
)
;
PAKISTAN
:
Kohat
,
Mch’
06 [
iii.1906
],
1♀
, leg.
F. Benton
,
USNM
(
holotype
/
syntype
of
A. cussariensis kohatensis
; type no. 23135, examined by photograph)
.
Distribution.
West Palaearctic, Central Asia,
Pakistan
, and
India
(
Gusenleitner & Schwarz 2002
;
Osytshnjuk
et al
. 2008
;
Wood 2023b
).