Tetralonioidella emeiensis Niu& Zhu, 2017

Niu, Zeqing, Yuan, Feng & Zhu, Chaodong, 2017, Taxonomic study of the genus Tetralonioidella Strand from China (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Melectini), Zoological Systematics 42 (4), pp. 418-445 : 426-428

Tetralonioidella emeiensis Niu& Zhu , sp. nov. ( Figs 7–8)

Diagnosis. The antennae and S7 of the new species is very similar to that of T. himalayana , but the pubescent colour- pattern of scutum is different from T. himalayana , apical margin of median process of S8 distinctly concave, and with distinct median hair fringe.

Description. Male. BL 10.5 mm ( Fig. 7a); head broader than long, HW: HL = 72: 56 ( Fig. 7b); gena slightly narrower than eye, GW: EW = 13: 16; width of metasoma slightly broader than the width between the tegulae, MtW: MsW = 90: 87. Clypeus slightly broader than long ( Fig. 7b); apical margin of labrum distinctly concave ( Fig. 7c); antenna long, reaching behind margin of tegula, scape conically broadened, as long as F2 to F4 together, flagellomere equal in breadth, F1 as long as broad, F2 long than broad, nearly twice times as long as broad, F3 equal in length with F4, about 1.6 times as long as broad, F5 equal in length with F6, nearly 1.2 times as long as broad, F7–F10 equal in length, nearly as long as broad, F11 hooked apically in lateral view, equal in length with F2, about twice times as long as broad ( Fig. 7d); fore wing with distinct numerous papillae apically ( Fig. 8a); scutellar spines slender, long, tapering apically, barely visible between pubescence; inner ramus of hind tarsal claw claw-like, arolium present ( Fig. 8b); ventral surface of apical part of S7 with dense setae laterally, median part distinctly convex, with thin inconspicuous sparse setae ( Fig. 8c); apical margin of median process of S8 distinctly concave, with distinct median hair fringe ( Fig. 8d); genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 8e (in dorsal view) and Fig. 8f (in lateral view), basal part of gonostylus with complicated processes at dorsal and ventral side, and the processes with dense long hairs ( Fig. 8f). Clypeus black except apical margin yellowish-brown ( Fig. 7b); basal half part of mandible yellowish-brown and apical half part dark reddish ( Fig. 7c); labrum dark yellowish-brown ( Fig. 7c); antenna dark brown beneath ( Fig. 7d); tegula yellowish-brown ( Fig. 7e); all legs dark reddish-brown except mediotarsus and distitarsus dark yellowish-brown; hind tarsal claw dark yellowish-brown apically ( Fig. 8b). Scutum pubescence bicoloured, scutum with narrow, transverse, pale gray pubescent stripe between tegulae ( Fig. 7e); clypeus, periphery of antennal socket, supraclypeal area and front surface of scape covered with dense white hairs ( Fig. 7b); paraocular area, vertex, genal area, and episternum covered with pale gray hairs, scutum, scutellum, metanotum covered with dense and long gray hairs, intermixed blackish hairs ( Fig. 7e); T1–T5 with short, light yellowish-brown hair bands before marginal zones ( Figs 7f, 8a).

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype. ♂, China, Sichuan, Mt. Emei (29º30′N, 103º18′E; elev. 800–1000 m), 20.IV.1957, Hongfu Zhu.

Distribution. China (Sichuan).

Etymology. The type location Mt. Emei (Sichuan, China) is given as the specific name.