Nomiapis caucasica ( Friese, 1897 )

Wood, Thomas J., 2025, On the status of Nomiapis valga (Gerstäcker) and its distribution (Hymenoptera, Halictidae, Nomiinae), with an identification key for European Nomiapis, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 72 (1), pp. 85-100 : 85-100

Nomiapis caucasica ( Friese, 1897) sp. resurr.

Nomia caucasica Friese, 1897: 61, ♂ [ Azerbaijan, NHMW, lectotype by present designation] (Fig. 2)

Material examined.

Afghanistan • 1 ♂; Sarobi [Sarawbi]; 27 May 1951; Rolk leg.; OÖLM ; Armenia • 1 ♂; pr. Eriwan [Yerevan], Parakar ; 10 Jun. 1925; A. Schelkovnikow leg.; OÖLM ; Azerbaijan • 3 ♂; Araxesthal [near Ordubad]; 1890; Reitter leg.; NHMW (lectotype by present designation) ; Greece • 1 ♀; Loutraki ; 23 May 1964; M. Schwarz leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Loutraki ; 2 Jun. 1964; M. Schwarz leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Loutraki , Golf von Korinth; 23–25 May 1962; M. Schwarz leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Rhodos, Archangelos ; 2–14 Jun. 1996; M. Hradský leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Western Macedonia, Anatoliko, 6.3 km E, Church of the Holy Apostles ; 1000 m a. s. l.; 15 Jun. 2024; T. J. Wood leg.; RMNH; RMNH. INS.1152625 • 1 ♂; Western Macedonia, Filotas, 3 km N of Antigonos ; 600–700 m a. s. l.; 11 Jun. 2024; T. J. Wood leg.; RMNH; RMNH. INS.1152626 ; Iran • 1 ♂; E Iran, Mohammadabad ; 1600 m a. s. l.; 3 May 1973; Exp. Nat. Mus. Praha; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Kuhanjan , SE Shiraz / Fars; 16 May 1978; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM ; Israel • 1 ♂; 2 km W Massada [ Metsada ]; 20 Apr. 1990; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 4 ♂; Mizpe Ramon, 12 km W, Zisterne ; 21 May 1991; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 4 ♂, 4 ♀; Mizpe Ramon, Borot Lotz ; 950 m a. s. l.; 21 May 1991; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 2 ♀; Wadi Abde ; 13 May 1966; Bytinski-Salz leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Wadi Ramon ; 2 May 1966; Bytinskii-Salz leg.; OÖLM ; Jordan • 1 ♀; west, Jordan Valley , S. Shuna; 25–26 Apr. 1996; Mi. Halada leg.; OÖLM ; Kazakhstan • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; centr., Lepsi , 6 km SE; 18 Jun. 1992; M. Halada leg.; OÖLM ; Turkey • 2 ♀; Akseki , Antalya; 1300 m a. s. l.; 3 Aug. 1991; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Beysehir [Beyşehir]; 13–14 Jun. 1966; H. H. F. Hamann leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Erzurum; 22 Aug. 1967; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Hakkari, Varegös / Mt. Sat ; 1750 m a. s. l.; 6 Aug. 1986; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 2 ♀; Malatya, 3 km NW of Darende , st. 126; 1400–1600 m a. s. l.; 31 Jul. 1983; H. v. Oorschot, H. v. d. Brink, H. Wiering leg.; RMNH; RMNH. INS.1662589 • 1 ♀; Malatya; 900 m a. s. l.; 27 Jun. 1984; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Mut ; 7 Jun. 1966; H. H. F. Hamann leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Mut ; 26 May 1972; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Nemrut Dağı, Karadut ; 2 Jul. 1993; Mi. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Nevsehir [Nevşehir], road Göreme-Ürgüp, st. 132 ; 1000–1100 m a. s. l.; 8 Aug. 1983; H. v. Oorschot, H. v. d. Brink, H. Wiering leg.; RMNH; RMNH. INS.1662591 • 1 ♀; Ulukışla ; 19 Jun. 1973; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Yüksekova / Hakkari; 11 Aug. 1979; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM ; Turkmenistan • 1 ♂; Aschabad [Ashgabat]; Ahnger leg.; RMNH; RMNH. INS.1662593 • 2 ♂; Aschabat, 40 km W Firyuza ; 6 Jun. 1993; M. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Кара-Кала, Туркм. [ Kara-Kala , Turkmenistan]; 11 Jun. 1953; Крыжановский [Kryzhanovsky] leg.; OÖLM ; Uzbekistan • 1 ♂; Samarkand - Aman Kutan ; 1 Jun. 1919; RMNH; RMNH. INS.1662592 ; West Bank • 1 ♂; Jericho ; 3 Apr. 1909; F. Morice leg.; OUMNH • 5 ♂; Jericho, Wadi Qilt ; 21 Apr. 1990; K. Warncke leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Shelomzziyon war memorial ; 12 Apr. 2000; S. P. M. Roberts leg.; TJWC .

Notes.

The location of the type material of N. caucasica has been a mystery until now. Friese (1897: 62) wrote, “ Im Museum Wien befinden sich 4 ♂ aus dem Kaukasus-Gebeit (Arexesthal 1890). ” For inexplicable reasons, Warncke (1976: 113) wrote, “ N. caucasica FRIESE, 1922 , ♂, Kaukasus, Typus. Mus. Berlin, ist N. femoralis ssp. valga ! In seiner Beschreibung kennzeichnete FRIESE dagegen N. equestris! Beschreibung und Typus (sowie Paratypen) stimmen nicht überein! Syn. n.! ”. The “ type ” specimen in the ZMHB collection is actually a specimen from Sarachs in Turkmenistan, which was identified by Friese (R. Le Divelec, pers. comm.), but is clearly of no type value as it does not match the collecting information in the original publication.

That the type of N. caucasica clearly should not be in the ZMHB was noted by Baker, who correctly stated that it should be found in the NHMW based on the original publication and who then listed N. caucasica as a synonym of N. equestris . This synonymy is based on the fact that Friese’s description of N. caucasica is partially copied from Gerstäcker’s description of N. equestris , but Baker did not inspect the type material of N. caucasica either, and so this synonymy is speculative.

Searches in the NHMW collection in 2024 were not able to retrieve any specimens of N. caucasica (D. Zimmermann and R. Le Divelec, pers. comm.), but a loan form dated 2 April 1965 was uncovered, this detailing a loan of 38 nomiine specimens to M. A. Diniz at the University of Coimbra ( Portugal), including “ Nomia caucasica ♂ 1 Ex. ” Searches at the University of Coimbra museum collection as well as communication with Diniz were unable to locate these specimens, including N. caucasica (H. Gaspar, pers. comm.). This explains why one of the N. caucasica specimens was missing from the NHMW collection, but what of the other three?

During searches of the Warncke collection ( OÖLM), three specimens were found that had been determined by Warncke as “ Nomia femoralis ssp. valga ”. These had the collecting information “ Araxesthal, Reitter 1890 ” and were labeled by Friese as “ Nomia caucasica ”. Warncke had even added “ Para-type ” labels, raising the point that he was clearly aware of their type status (Fig. 2 A ). These three specimens are indisputably the remaining syntypes of N. caucasica that had been taken from NHMW by Warncke at an unknown date due to their collecting labels and consistency with Friese’s original description. One of them is designated as the lectotype, the type series now having been returned to the NHMW. It is unclear if Warncke took these from the NHMW collection before or after his 1976 publication.

Now that the type material has been definitively located, its identity can be established and the hypotheses of Warncke (conspecific with valga ) and Baker (conspecific with equestris ) can be assessed. The specimen is clearly not conspecific with N. equestris , as the apical margin of S 4 has a deep semi-circular excavation, and the apical margin of S 5 is weakly emarginate with two pincer-like, slightly bent digitiform projections (Fig. 2 D ; the narrowly separated, raised, convex, tongue-like processes of Baker 2002: 57). Moreover, the apical process of the hind tibia is flattened, more-or-less rectangular, and with the apical margin truncate (Fig. 2 B ). As N. equestris males have the hind margin of S 4 narrowly incised, S 5 with a large circular excavation, and the apical process of the hind tibia narrow and sharply pointed, Baker’s hypothesis can be rejected.

Separation from N. valga is more challenging. As the lateral margins flanking the emargination of S 4 are produced into low-lying posteriorly projecting ridges, it can be separated from N. femoralis , which has the lateral margins produced elevated projections with triangular apexes, Warncke’s combination of N. femoralis ssp. valga being rejected by most subsequent workers ( Ebmer 1988; Baker 2002; Astafurova and Pesenko 2006). Consultation of a series of specimens from Spain ( N. valga ) and eastern specimens ( N. caucasica ) has allowed discriminative characters to be identified in the male sex:

Density of punctures on the disc of T 2

Punctation of the marginal areas of T 2–3

Tergal sculpture, including sculpture of marginal areas

The lectotype of N. caucasica displays 1) relatively sparse punctures on the disc of T 2, with two shining areas mediolaterally that clearly exceed the diameter of a puncture in size (Fig. 2 C ); 2) the marginal areas of T 2–3 have a very narrow row of punctures at their base, these punctures covering <⅕ of the length of the marginal area (Fig. 2 C ); and 3) the terga have relatively weak microsculpture sculpture and are broadly shining, particularly the marginal areas (Fig. 2 C ).

In contrast, specimens from Spain display 1) relatively dense punctures on the disc of T 2, without impunctate shining areas mediolaterally that clearly exceed the diameter of a puncture in size, at most with slight hints of such an area (Fig. 3 C ); 2) the marginal areas of T 2–3 have 3–4 rows of punctures at their base, these occupying the basal ⅓ – ⅕ of the marginal areas (Fig. 3 C ); and 3) the terga have slightly stronger microsculpture and are comparatively more dull, particularly on the marginal areas, which are never polished and shining (Fig. 3 C ). Finally, the lectotype of N. caucasica has the scutellum laterally rounded, whereas specimens of N. valga from Spain have the scutellum laterally mucronate, with posteriorly projecting teeth. Baker (2002: 57, couplet 26) considered males of N. valga to have the scutellum laterally without posteriorly projecting spines, but he never examined specimens from Spain, which show the spines consistently based on the limited number of specimens examined to date. Specimens from the east are variable, sometimes showing spines and sometimes not; it therefore does not seem to be a stable character in eastern populations, even though it may be stable (always present) in N. valga . Overall, these characters taken in combination allow the consistent separation of male N. caucasica and N. valga regardless of geographic origin, and N. caucasica sp. resurr. is returned to species status.

As the type material of N. valga is lost, with Friese, Warncke, and Baker unable to locate it in the ZMHB, along with modern searchers (R. Le Divelec, pers. comm.), and the clear taxonomic complexity in separating N. valga and N. caucasica , it is desirable to designate a neotype for N. valga . In line with the conditions of article 75.3 ( ICZN 1999), this neotype (Fig. 3 ) is needed to decisively settle the identity of N. valga , preserving nomenclatural stability for Iberian populations. The selected specimen is from the province of Granada, which falls within Andalusia, the stated terra typica of Gerstäcker. The selected specimen is male, matching the sex in which the species was originally described. This neotype selection allows the name N. valga to continue to be applied to Spanish populations. The neotype is deposited in the RMNH collection (unique reference number: RMNH. INS.1662584 ).

Concerning the distribution of N. caucasica , due to historical problems with the species concepts, it is necessary to clarify some points here. Astafurova and Pesenko (2006) list N. caucasica as a synonym of N. valga following Warncke and give a broad distribution from Spain to Pakistan. This also includes Czechia; this record is outside of the range of N. valga sensu Warncke and derives from Van der Zanden (1997). Van der Zanden (1997: 756) reported two males of “ Pseudapis valga ” from Czechia (Čejč), one male from Spain (Granada), one male from Turkmenistan (Ashgabat), and one male from Uzbekistan (Samarkand; reported as collected in 1959 but in reality collected in 1919 based on the label). All specimens are now part of the RMNH collection and were examined; the two males from Czechia are N. femoralis , the male from Spain is N. valga , and the two males from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are N. caucasica (full specimen details are found in their respective species entries). This inconsistent identification is unfortunately characteristic of the later work of Van der Zanden (see Baker 2002; Wood and Le Divelec 2022), but the re-examination of material allows for these literature references to be clarified.

Finally, Warncke (1980: 370) reported N. femoralis ssp. valga from Iran and Afghanistan; specimens from these two records were examined in the OÖLM collection, with them corresponding to N. caucasica . Overall, N. caucasica can be seen as the eastern counterpart of N. valga , which is here restricted in distribution to just Spain (Fig. 4 ).

Distribution.

North Macedonia, Greece (including Samos, Lesbos, and Rhodos), Turkey, Cyprus, Israel and the West Bank, Jordan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan ( Warncke 1976; 1980 partim, as Nomia femoralis ssp. valga ; Baker 2002 partim, as Nomiapis valga ; Astafurova and Pesenko 2006 partim, as N. valga ; Ebmer 2014 partim, as Pseudapis valga ; Pauly 2015 partim, as N. valga ) (Fig. 4 ).

Figures

Figure 2. Nomiapis caucasica (Friese, 1897) lectotype male (NHMW). A. Label details; B. Habitus, profile view; C. Metasoma, dorsal view; D. Apical sterna, ventral view.

Figure 3. Nomiapis valga (Gerstäcker, 1872) neotype male (RMNH). A. Label details; B. Habitus, profile view; C. Metasoma, dorsal view; D. Hind leg and metasoma, profile view.

Figure 4. Distribution map based on specimens examined during this study for Nomiapis valga (Gerstäcker, 1872) (black circles), Nomiapis femoralis (Pallas, 1773) (red circles), and Nomiapis caucasica (Friese, 1897) (blue circles). Distributional data presented here are not comprehensive, and additional references in the main text should also be consulted in the context of the revisions to Nomiapis species concepts presented here.