Andrena (Graecandrena) cretica sp. nov.

Fig. 70 A – C, E, F

Type material.

Holotype. GREECE • 1 ♀; Crete, Plateau Katharo [W of Katharon]; 35.1473°N, 25.5598°E; 1160 m a. s. l.; 1 Jun. 2023; R. Le Divelec leg.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1716255; [BOLD accession number ORBIT 180-23].

Paratypes. GREECE • 1 ♀; Crete, Plateau Katharo [W of Katharon]; 1160 m a. s. l.; 1 Jun. 2023; R. Le Divelec leg.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1716256 • 5 ♀; Crete, Foinikilas [E of Agios Ioannis]; 450 m a. s. l.; 6 Jun. 2023; R. Le Divelec leg.; RLDC • 1 ♀; Crete, Mousoures [W of Prases]; 500 m a. s. l.; 9 Jun. 2023; R. Le Divelec leg.; RLDC • 1 ♀; Crete, Dept. Chania, Mescla [Meskla]; 3 May 1973; v. Ooststroom leg.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1264834 • 1 ♀; Kriti, Spilia – Drakona, 25 km W of Chania; 18 May 1982; J. P. Duffels leg.; RMNH; ZMA.INS.5103925.

Description.

Female. Body length: 5 mm (Fig. 70 A). Head: Dark, 1.25 times wider than long (Fig. 70 C). Clypeus weakly domed, finely shagreened and weakly shining, moderately punctate, punctures separated by 1–3 puncture diameters. Process of labrum small, narrowly trapezoidal, slightly wider than long. Gena slightly exceeding width of compound eye; ocelloccipital distance slightly <1 / 2 diameter of lateral ocellus. Foveae occupying 1 / 3 space between pound eye and lateral ocellus, equalling width of flagellum, moderately impressed, ventrally extending below lower level of antennal insertions; foveae filled with light brown hairs. Head covered with pale to light brown hairs, none equalling length of scape. Antennae dark, A 5–12 ventrally lightened by presence of greyish scales; A 3 equalling A 4 + 5.

Mesosoma: Scutum and scutellum very weakly sculptured, almost polished and shining, weakly punctate, punctures separated by 1–3 puncture diameters (Fig. 70 E). Pronotum rounded. Mesepisternum and dorsolateral parts of propodeum with fine granular microreticulation, dull to weakly shining. Propodeal triangle broad, laterally not differentiated from dorsolateral parts of propodeum, basally with greatly reduced rugae, present only immediately adjacent to the junction between the propodeum and metanotum, not exceeding the width of a flagellum in length (Fig. 70 B). Mesepisternum with whitish densely plumose hairs, becoming shorter and sparser on scutum and scutellum. Propodeal corbicula lacking anterior fringe, dorsal fringe composed of long plumose whitish hairs, internal surface with long scattered simple pale hairs. Legs dark, apical tarsal segments lightened brownish, pubescence light brown. Flocculus incomplete, composed of long scarcely curving white plumose hairs, femoral and tibial scopae composed of white simple hairs. Inner tarsal claws with inner subapical tooth. Wings hyaline, stigma and venation brownish orange, nervulus interstitial.

Metasoma: Terga dark, apical rims narrowly lightened hyaline brown (Fig. 70 G). Tergal discs with fine granular microsculpture, completely impunctate, weakly shining. Tergal discs with scattered short hairs, not forming apical hairbands. T 5 and hairs flanking pygidial plate orange-brown; pygidial plate narrowly rounded triangular, surface dull.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis.

Andrena cretica can be recognised as a Graecandrena due to the small body size, hind tarsal claws with a small inner subapical tooth, and propodeal triangle which is predominantly covered with granular shagreen with the exception of a narrow section at its base with very short rugae (Fig. 70 B). Due to the short ocelloccipital distance (less than the diameter of a lateral ocellus), it is closest to A. hyemala (mainland southern Balkans) and A. repressa (the island of Rhodes only). It can be separated from both comparison species (treated together) by the clypeus which is finely shagreened and weakly shining (Fig. 70 C; in comparison species with the clypeus microreticulate and dull, Fig. 70 D), propodeal triangle with basal rugae greatly reduced, present only immediately adjacent to the junction between the propodeum and metanotum, not exceeding the width of a flagellum in length (Fig. 70 B; in comparison species with the propodeal triangle more extensively wrinkled basally, rugae extending to the midpoint of the propodeal triangle, exceeding the width of a flagellum in length), scutum very weakly sculptured, almost polished and shining (Fig. 70 E; in comparison species with the scutum shagreened, at most weakly shining, Fig. 70 F), and frons with weak and superficial sculpturing, with only hints of longitudinal striations (Fig. 70 G; in comparison species with the frons dull, showing raised longitudinal striations, Fig. 70 H). Andrena cretica is also very slightly smaller at 5 mm in length compared to 6 mm in the comparison species, but a series of specimens is required to appreciate this difference. As demonstrated above, the biogeography of A. cretica suggests a non-overlapping distribution, with neither A. hyemala or A. repressa present on Crete.

Etymology.

Named after the island of Crete. It is an adjective in the feminine singular nominative form.

Distribution.

Greece (Crete) (Fig. 23).