Triepeolus roni Genaro, 1999

Onuferko, Thomas M. & Rightmyer, Molly G., 2024, A revision of the simplex species group of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Triepeolus Robertson, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 950 (1), pp. 1-106 : 68-71

Triepeolus roni Genaro, 1999

Figs 5B , 11A , 12L , 27

Triepeolus roni Genaro, 1999: 219 (♀, ♂), figs 1c, 2b, 3c.

Proposed common name

Ron’s triepeolus.

Diagnosis

Unique to T. roni within the genus are the basal arched ridge overhanging the impressed apicomedial region of the pseudopygidial area of the female, which (as in all species in the T. simplex group) is triangular, with the apical margin of T5 concave, and glabrous midline extending from it to the apical margin of the tergum, which is suggestive of the cleft pseudopygidial area of Rhogepeolus Moure, 1955 ( Hymenoptera : Apidae : Nomadinae ) ( Fig. 27D ). Otherwise, the following morphological features in combination tell both sexes of T. roni apart from all other species of Triepeolus : the clypeus does not have a glabrous midline (Supp. file 2: Fig. S19C ); the axillae are large, each with the tip extending well beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum and the free portion distinctly pointed, hooked (i.e., concave along the medial margin), and mesally unattached to the mesoscutellum for approximately half the medial length of the axilla ( Fig. 5B ); the T1 discal patch is trapezoidal with a semicircular anteromedial projection ( Figs 11A , 27B); and the T1 apical transverse band is conspicuously narrowed sublaterally, at the posterior corners of the discal patch ( Figs 11A , 27B). Males of T. roni are very similar in overall appearance to those of T. nisibonensis Genaro, 2001 , a Hispaniolan (as opposed to Bahamian and Cuban) species (outside of the simplex species group), but both sexes of T. roni can easily be separated from T. nisibonensis on the basis of the vertexal area, which in the latter is uniquely notched posteromedially, as well as by geography.

Etymology

The specific epithet (declined in the genitive case) honors the late Dr Ronald (Ron) J. McGinley, a friend and colleague of the taxonomic authority, in recognition of his contributions to the knowledge of bee biodiversity, conservation, and collections management ( Genaro 1999).

Material examined

Primary type material

CUBA • ♀, holotype (studied from images); Mayabeque, La Fosforita , Loma de Candela, Güines ; 28 Dec. 1992; J.A. Genaro leg.; MNHNCU .

Secondary type material

CUBA – Mayabeque • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for holotype; KUNHM M.G.R. Database No. 3713 • 1 ♀, paratype (studied from image); same data as for holotype; MNHNCU. – Sancti Spíritus • 1 ♀, paratype (studied from image); Punta Caguanes, Yaguajay ; 16 Jul. 1996; J.A. Genaro leg.; MNHNCU. – Santiago de Cuba • 1 ♂, allotype (studied from image), 1 ♀, paratype (studied from image); Cuabitas; Oct. 1949; P. Alayo leg.; MNHNCU .

DNA barcoded material

Available. BIN: BOLD:AFI6376. Specimens examined and sequenced:

CUBA • 1 ♂ (studied from image); Pinar del Río, San Diego de los Baños, Los Palacios ; 16 Sep. 2022; D. Breto leg.; BOLD sample ID: CCDB-14520-D12 ; MHNTSN .

Non-barcoded material

BAHAMAS – Central Abaco • 1 ♀; Marsh Harbour ( Great Abaco Island ); 30 Apr. 1993; T.W. Schoener leg.; UCBME . – Mangrove Cay • 1 ♀; Mangrove Cay ( Andros Island ); 26 Apr. 1953; E.B. Hayden leg.; AMNH M.G.R. Database No. 1307 . – San Salvador • 1 ♂; San Salvador Island ; 6 Jun. 1978; P. Salbert leg.; USNM M.G.R. Database No. 5922 .

Redescription

MEASUREMENTS OF HOLOTYPE. Body length 8.8 mm; ITW 2.1 mm; head length 2.2 mm; head width 3.1 mm; fore wing length 6.9 mm.

Both sexes

INTEGUMENT COLORATION. Dark brown to black except as follows. Mandible with apical third golden yellow. Mandible with basal two-thirds; labrum along apical and lateral margins; scape, pedicel, and F1 predominantly and succeeding flagellomeres to some extent; tegula; coxae to some extent; trochanters entirely; femora predominantly to entirely; and tibiae (excluding brown meso- and metatibial spurs) and tarsi entirely orange. Fore wing membrane dusky subhyaline throughout, slightly darker beyond venation. Hind wing membrane dusky subhyaline to hyaline. Metasomal terga laterally, pygidial plate to some extent, and metasomal sterna to some extent reddish brown.

PUBESCENCE. Face with tomentum densest around antennal socket. Clypeus, upper paraocular and frontal areas, and vertexal area mostly exposed. Pronotal collar with tomentum uniformly bright yellow (off-white in some non-type specimens). Mesoscutum with well-defined paramedian band of off-white to yellow tomentum (attaining anterior margin in holotype, allotype, and paratypes; tapering slightly toward but not attaining anterior margin in some non-type specimens); pale tomentum otherwise mostly restricted to lateral and posterior margins. Mesopleuron with dark brown/gray, appressed, branched setae ventromedially and off-white to pale-yellow, appressed, branched setae elsewhere; densely setose except for two sparsely setose circular patches (one beneath base of fore wing (hypoepimeral area) and larger one occupying much of ventrolateral half of mesopleuron). Metanotum with tomentum uninterrupted, uniformly pale yellow (off-white in some non-type specimens). Propodeal triangle mostly glabrous, with (pale) setae restricted to small lateral patches. Metasomal terga with bands of white/ off-white to yellow tomentum. T1 with basal and apical transverse bands subparallel and discal patch trapezoidal with semicircular anteromedial projection. T1–T4 with apical transverse bands medially somewhat removed from apical margins of terga, those of T1–T2 separated into pairs of rounded lobes medially, that of T1 narrowed sublaterally mesad lateral longitudinal band (at posterior corner of discal patch), that of T2 with pair of basomedially convergent anterolateral extensions, those of T3–T4 complete or tapering until separated medially. S2–S3 with apical transverse bands of white tomentum.

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Labrum coarsely and densely (most i <1d) rugose-punctate. Clypeus densely punctate (most i ≤ 1d) but interspaces well defined, shining; with many small punctures among larger ones. Vertexal area somewhat sparsely punctate (some i> 2d) anteriorly and around ocelli, otherwise densely (most i <1d) rugose-punctate. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, and axilla with punctures more or less equally dense and nearly contiguous (most i<1d). Mesopleuron with punctures in upper half nearly contiguous but not much denser (i<1d) than in ventrolateral half (most i ≤ 1d); interspaces shining where punctures not contiguous; punctures similar in size throughout. Discs of metasomal terga with punctures very fine, dense (i≈ 1d), and evenly distributed; interspaces shining somewhat.

STRUCTURE. Labrum with pair of small subapical denticles, each preceded by discrete longitudinal ridge. Pronotal collar short (medial length ~ ½ MOD). Mesoscutellum strongly bigibbous.Axilla extending well beyond midlength of mesoscutellum but not as far back as its posterior margin; tip distinctly pointed and hooked (i.e., concave along medial margin), mesally unattached to mesoscutellum for approximately half medial length of axilla; lateral margin somewhat arcuate. Fore wing with three submarginal cells.

Female

T5 with concave apical margin and large patch of pale-yellow to white/off-white tomentum on each side lateral to pseudopygidial area. Pseudopygidial area with underlying integument reddish brown in part, forming rounded triangle with concave sides, with brown erect/suberect setae basally and brown spinelike setae laterally, with basal arched ridge overhanging impressed apicomedial region with ill-defined glabrous midline. Pygidial plate apically truncate. S4 with apical transverse band of white tomentum. S5 straight in lateral view, with apical fimbria of brown bristle-like setae and dark brown tomentum laterally and apicomedially; S5 otherwise covered in off-white tomentum (S5 uniformly covered in brown tomentum in some non-type specimens).

Male

T5 with complete apical transverse band of bright to pale-yellow tomentum. T6 with small posteromedial patch of pale-yellow tomentum. Pygidial plate apically rounded and slightly downturned, with lateral margin somewhat sinuate. S4–S5 each with apical/subapical fringe of dense, long (>1 MOD), curved, predominantly coppery brown setae, contrasting with apical transverse bands of white tomentum of preceding sterna, those of S4 coppery to silvery laterally.

Distribution

The Bahamas and Cuba ( Fig. 12L ). This is the only species in the T. simplex group known to occur in the West Indies.

Ecology

Host records

Unknown.

Floral records

Unknown.

Remarks

In some specimens from the Bahamas, the dorsum of the mesosoma and metasoma have bands of white/ off-white (as opposed to yellow) tomentum.

Figures

Fig. 5. Axillae and mesoscutellum of male, dorsal view. A. Triepeolus intrepidus (Smith, 1879) (PCYU PCYU-SD09:612). B. T. roni Genaro, 1999 (USNM M.G.R. Database No. 5922). C. T. hirsutus sp. nov., allotype (PCYU). D. T. brittaini Cockerell, 1931 (BOLD sample ID: 05-NS-0718; PCYU).

Fig. 11A–F (continued on next page). Metasoma of male, dorsal view. A. Triepeolus roni Genaro, 1999 (USNM M.G.R. Database No. 5922). B. T. buchwaldi (Friese, 1908) (INHS 387483). C. T. eumeniformis sp. nov., paratype (ECOSUR ECO-TA-E-41271). D. T. eumeniformis sp. nov., paratype (CNC 1801914). E. T. kathrynae Rozen, 1989 (RSKM RSKM_ENT_E-168244). F. T. tristis (Smith, 1854) (BOLD sample ID: CCDB-30345 C09; PCYU). Blue lines indicate an abrupt (A, D–E) or seamless (B–C) transition between the basal band and lateral longitudinal band.

Fig. 12A–D (continued on next page). Distribution maps. A. All species in the Triepeolus simplex group. B. T. apache sp. nov. C. T. eumeniformis sp. nov. D. T. hirsutus sp. nov. Approximate geographic ranges are indicated in orange and were estimated from occurrence records known to the authors (yellow and blue circles, with the latter indicating localities of DNA barcoded specimens).

Fig. 27. Triepeolus roni Genaro, 1999. A, D. Paratype, ♀ (KUNHM M.G.R. Database No. 3713). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Female (AMNH M.G.R. Database No. 1307), habitus, dorsal view. C. Male (USNM M.G.R. Database No. 5922), habitus, lateral view. D. Pseudopygidial area, dorsal view.

Fig. 19. Triepeolus kathrynae Rozen, 1989. A–B. Female (PCYU). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Habitus, dorsal view. C. Male (RAM pmae00141635), habitus, lateral view. D. Female (BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_007; PCYU) pseudopygidial area, dorsal view.