Triepeolus nemoralis ( Holmberg, 1886 )

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 : 47-48

Triepeolus nemoralis ( Holmberg, 1886)

Fig. 13B

Doeringiella nemoralis Holmberg, 1886: 280 (♀).

Epeolus merus Brèthes, 1909: 250 (♂).

Epeolus merus – Schrottky 1913: 265 (in regional checklist).

Triepeolus nemoralis – Roig-Alsina 1989: 578. — Onuferko et al. 2024: 27 , figs 1f, 3b, 11, 13b (redescription).

Proposed common name

Nemoral triepeolus.

Diagnosis

The following morphological features in combination tell T. nemoralis apart from all other species of Triepeolus : the mesoscutum has a large anteromedial ovate patch of yellow tomentum, which may be sparser medially such that the patch is suggestive of ill-defined paramedian bands ( Fig. 13B ); the T1 basal band is arched, continuous with (and indistinguishable from) the lateral longitudinal bands, and mesally concave on each side, such that the discal patch is semicircular ( Fig. 13B ); T1 does not have an apical transverse band ( Fig. 13B ), but the apical impressed area may have ill-defined patches of pale tomentum; and T2–T4 have complete apical transverse bands of yellow tomentum ( Fig. 13B ). Triepeolus nemoralis most closely resembles specimens of T. alvarengai without an apical transverse band on T1 and T. mexicanus , the latter of which is known only from North and Central America, but in T. alvarengai the mesoscutum has well-defined paramedian bands and in T. mexicanus pale tomentum on the mesoscutum is restricted to the lateral and posterior margins. Males of T. nemoralis also closely resemble those of T. flavipennis without an apical transverse band on T1 and T. cameroni , which is known only from Mexico and Central America, but in the latter two species, which are not in the simplex species group, the mesoscutum has well-defined paramedian bands, in T. flavipennis the pair of anterolateral patches of pale tomentum on T1 are mesally convex, such that the discal patch forms a trapezoid or triangle with concave anterolateral sides, and in T. cameroni S3 has an apical/subapical fringe of dense, long (> 1 MOD), curved, pale setae (as opposed to only short, straight setae). This species is also very similar in overall appearance to Epeolus luteipennis , and in both species the mesoscutum has a large anteromedial patch of yellow tomentum (as opposed to well-defined paramedian bands), but both sexes of T. nemoralis can easily be told apart from any similar-looking Epeolus by their simple mandibles; in E. luteipennis and most other Epeolus spp. , the mandibles each have a distinct preapical tooth.

Etymology

See Onuferko et al. (2024).

Material examined

See Onuferko et al. (2024).

DNA barcoded material

Unavailable.

Redescription

This species was recently redescribed ( Onuferko et al. 2024).

Distribution

Northern and eastern South America ( Onuferko et al. 2024: fig. 1F).

Ecology

Host records

Unknown.

Floral records

See Onuferko et al. (2024).

Remarks

Detailed morphological and taxonomic remarks about this species are given in Onuferko et al. (2024).

Figures

Fig. 13. Mesosoma and metasoma of male, dorsal view. A. Triepeolus alvarengai Moure, 1955 (ZMB ed1bbe/M.G.R. Database No. 11694) (image is copyright of the Museum für Naturkunde and reproduced here with permission). B. T. nemoralis (Holmberg, 1886) (CNC 1801912).