Andrenopsis michenerianus Almeida

Almeida, Eduardo A. B., 2008, Revised species checklist of the Paracolletinae (Hymenoptera, Colletidae) of the Australian Region, with the description of new taxa, Zootaxa 1891, pp. 1-24 : 18-24

Andrenopsis michenerianus Almeida , sp.n.

( Figs. 2–13 )

Diagnosis. This species can be easily distinguished from other Andrenopsis by the tuberculate metanotum slightly projecting over the metapostnotum (not tuberculate in the remaining Andrenopsis species), the weak metallic tints (not metallic in the other species of this genus); and the weakly protuberant clypeus of the male (in all other species, the clypeus is “protuberant in front of the eyes to the extent of nearly half the eye width, seen from the side” [Michener 1965: p.71]).

Description: Male (Holotype). Approximate body length 9.23 mm; length of forewing 6.2 mm. Head broader than long (width: 3.28, length: 2.5). Compound eyes diverging above ( Fig. 5 ), upper portion diverging more pronouncedly; inner margins of compound eyes nearly straight; maximum, lower, and upper interocular distances: 2.08, 1.64, 2.08 mm; length of eye 1.92 mm. Apical margin of clypeus straight; clypeus not strongly protuberant ( Fig. 3 ), but slightly raised in comparison to paraocular areas. Labrum rectangular, almost five times broader than long (0.76 x 0.16 mm), apical margin gently concave, disc uniformly convex.

Malar area very short (0.09 mm). Mandible curved at an angle of slightly less than 90º, basal third little broadened; preapical tooth present (as well-developed as in female); approximate length of mandible 1.1 mm; basal width of mandible 0.49 mm. Apical two-thirds of prementum with ventral longitudinal groove medially (integument of basal third, which lacks groove, distinctive: smooth and shiny). Length of clypeus 0.8 mm; clypeoantennal distance 0.34 mm; diameter of antennal socket 0.20 mm; interantennal distance: 0.42; oculoantennal distance 0.52 mm; diameter of median ocellus: 0.23, interocellar and ocellocular distances: 0.40, 0.62. Anterior tentorial pit located on epistomal suture, closer to junction with subantennal suture than to base of mandible. Facial fovea relatively small, not impressed (recognizable by the unsculptured, shiny integument), more than three times as long as wide (width 0.18 mm, length 0.56 mm). Frontal line forming a narrow and moderately deep sulcus on frons up to the margin of the median ocellus. Vertex projecting above lateral ocelli in frontal view by about one ocellar diameter ( Fig. 5 ); vertex concavate between lateral ocellus and compound eye; small area between lateral ocelli and behind median ocellus depressed. Gena at broadest (one-fifth from dorsal portion of compound eye) approximately three-fourths of width of compound eye, progressively narrower ventrally, becoming absent at about 1/4 from ventral portion of eye ( Fig. 3 ). Scape reaching upper margin of median ocellus, length of scape, pedicel: 0.94, 0.18 mm; F1 almost twice as long as F2 (0.23, 0.13 mm), F11 longest: 0.32 mm, F3, F5 intermediate in length (0.18, 0.2 mm), diameter of F5 0.19 mm. Length of mesoscutum 1.8 mm, intertegular distance 2.0 mm. Disc of scutellum largely flat, except for depressed median longitudinal area, depression approximately one flagellar diameter wide. Metanotum tuberculate and slightly raised over anterior margin of metapostnotum. Surface of metapostnotum almost wholly vertical, except for a short basal zone less declivous than posterior surface. Forewing with two submarginal cells, approximately equal in length on posterior margin (1st and 2nd cells: 0.90, 0.99 mm). Length and width of prestigma: 0.28, 0.16 mm; stigma relatively small, nearly parallel sided, length and width: 0.66, 0.18 mm. Marginal cell pointed apically, apex bent away from wing margin; length of marginal cell on costal edge of wing (distal to stigma) 1.14 mm, maximum length of marginal cell 1.48 mm; distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip 1.03 mm; first recurrent vein distal to first submarginal crossvein; basal vein (M) meeting cu-v. Jugal lobe of hind wing lacking. Hamuli 10 on left wing, 8 on right wing, distal hamuli more closely and evenly spaced (in the other males of the type-series, number of hamuli varying from 8 to 11 on each wing). Hind femur swollen ( Fig. 2 ). Basitibial plate more than twice as long as wide (0.46 x 0.2 mm), nearly one fourth as long as tibia; apex pointed, plate well delimited by marginal carinae that converge apically to form a pointed apex; apex of plate extending as a longitudinal carina on outer surface of tibia, which gradually fades out as a ridge that ends at tibial midlength. Inner surface of tibia longitudinally carinate, inner surface broadened apically ( Figs. 2, 4 ). Outer surface of hind basitarsus with short longitudinal carina basally. Inner hind tibial spur finely serrate, numerous teeth, longer than wide (approximately one-third as long as diameter of the spur rachis). Metasoma oval, T2 widest ( Fig. 2 ). Marginal region of T1–T4 depressed in relation to disc, marginal area of T1 slightly more than one-third of as long as horizontal surface measured on median line. Pygidial plate triangular, noticeable for the surface bare and shiny. Tip of apical process of S7 visible, resembling a second pygidial plate; neck of apical process of S7 strongly arcuate in profile. Male terminalia and genital capsule as in Fig. 6 .

Coloration: Integument mostly black, without metallic tints; F3–F10 ventrally and metasomal sterna largely blackish brown; distal third of mandible dark ferruginous; mouthparts largely, and outer surface of tibiae and tarsi ferruginous (mid tibia with black patches); tegula and wing veins blackish brown to black, center of stigma brown; marginal area of metasomal terga lighter than discs, translucent. Wing membranes moderately, rather uniformly infuscate, grayish-brown throughout.

Sculpturing and punctation. Labral surface smooth, punctures absent except on apical margin. Surface of clypeus smooth and shiny, punctures very dense basally, slightly coarser and much sparser apicad, leaving an apical transverse area impunctate. Anterior margin of supraclypeal area impunctate, smooth; on punctation largely dense, progressively denser and finer away from clypeus. On paraocular area punctation very dense, punctures weakly oblique. Mesoscutal surface smooth among punctures; punctures moderately coarse and very dense (less than one diameter apart), two distinct puncture diameters recognizable; on the median portion of disc sparser (one diameter or less apart); on disc of scutellum punctures denser, finer toward margins. Metanotum with surface alveolate-punctate. Metapostnotum confused-rugulose; lower half of metapostnotum and surrounding areas of propodeum imbricate; median longitudinal line of metapostnotum weakly ridged; metapostnotum impunctate; anteriorly on propodeum, punctation coarse and moderately sparse (less than one to two diameters apart). Anterior vertical surface of T1 imbricate, punctures moderately coarse and dense near border with horizontal surface; much sparser to absent away from it. T1–T3, surface somewhat uneven (but smooth) between punctures; punctures moderately coarse and very dense (less than one diameter separating punctures) on disc of terga, sparser on marginal area; on T4–T6 similar to previous terga, but punctation finer and sparser. Metasomal sterna imbricate-punctate, punctures moderately coarse to moderately fine and sparse.

Vestiture. Mostly white, except: yellow on labrum, mouthparts, and fore tibia; ventrally on mandible and tarsi; light fuscous on upper paraocular area, mesoscutum, and scutellum; fuscous on discs of T4–T7. On head moderately plumose and long, semi-decumbent on clypeus and lower paraocular area, semierect to erect on remainder of paraocular area, frons and vertex, shorter dorsad on gena; on disc of mesoscutum moderately long and erect, intermixed with minute, simple, erect setae; on mesosomal pleura long, plumose, and erect to semi-erect; metasomal terga lacking hair bands either on tergal bases or on marginal areas; on T1–T2, moderately long, semi-erect, intermixed with short erect setae; on T3–T5, shorter than on previous terga.

Description. Female (Allotype). Approximate body length 11.14 mm; length of forewing 6.78 mm. Head broader than long (width: 3.76, length: 2.84). Compound eyes moderately diverging above ( Fig. 9 ), inner margins of compound eyes nearly straight (upper portion of eye margins slightly converging); maximum, lower, and upper interocular distances: 2.36, 2.12, 2.28 mm; length of eye 2.26 mm. Apical margin of clypeus straight. Disc of labrum approximately three times broader than long (0.94 x 0.30 mm), disc uniformly convex; apical margin of labrum with an obtuse triangular projection 0.01 mm long. Malar area very short (0.13 mm). Approximate length of mandible 1.44 mm; basal width of mandible 0.54 mm; outer margin of mandible forming angle of approximately 45º ( Fig. 9 ), more or less uniform in width across its length; preapical tooth present, shorter than mandibular apex by approximately one flagellar diameter. Maxillary palpus short (0.74 mm), six-segmented; maxillary and labial palpomeres progressively thinner apicad. Apical half of prementum with ventral longitudinal groove medially. Length of clypeus 0.84 mm; clypeoantennal distance 0.38 mm; diameter of antennal socket 0.22 mm, interantennal distance 0.54 mm; oculo-antennal distance 0.70 mm; diameter of median ocellus 0.26 mm, interocellar and ocellocular distances: 0.48, 0.66 mm. Anterior tentorial pit located on epistomal suture, closer to junction with subantennal suture than to base of mandible. Facial fovea very gently impressed (recognizable for the smooth and shiny integument), more than twice as long as wide (width 0.35 mm, length 0.84 mm). Frontal line forming a narrow and moderately deep sulcus on frons up to the margin of the median ocellus, a shallower sulcus extends behind the median ocellus by approximately one ocellar diameter. Vertex projecting above lateral ocelli by about one ocellar diameter ( Fig. 9 ). Gena at broadest (one-third from dorsal portion of compound eye) approximately three-fourths as wide as compound eye, narrower ventrally. Length of scape, pedicel: 1.08, 0.20 mm; F1 more than 1.5 times as long as F2 (0.22, 0.12 mm), F10 longest: 0.28 mm, length of F3, F5 intermediate (0.14, 0.17 mm), diameter of F5 0.19 mm. Length of mesoscutum 2.28 mm, intertegular distance 2.56 mm. Disc of scutellum largely flat, except for a depressed median longitudinal area (approximately one flagellar diameter wide). Metanotum tuberculate and slightly projecting over anterior margin of metapostnotum. Surface of metapostnotum almost wholly vertical, except for short basal zone less declivous than posterior surface. Forewing with ( Fig. 12 ) two submarginal cells, approximately equal in length on posterior margin (1st and 2nd cells: 1.08, 1.11 mm). Length and width of prestigma: 0.32, 0.18 mm; length and width of stigma: 0.72, 0.21 mm. Marginal cell pointed apically, apex bent away from wing margin; length of marginal cell on costal edge of wing (distal to stigma) 1.28 mm, maximum length of marginal cell 1.64 mm; distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip 1.20 mm. Jugal lobe of hind wing ( Fig. 12 ) attaining cu-v, about than 2/3 as long as vannal lobe (2.12, 3.02 mm). Hamuli 11 on each wing, distal hamuli more closely and evenly spaced. Basitibial plate ( Fig. 11 ) approximately twice as long as wide (0.8 x 0.36 mm), one fourth as long as hind tibia; apex of basitibial plate rounded, margins slightly raised above disc. Inner ramus of tarsal claw reduced to a protuberance ( Fig. 13 ). Inner hind tibial spur pectinate, teeth narrow, longer than wide, shorter than spur rachis, outer margin of spur not serrate. Metasoma ovoid, T2 widest ( Fig. 8 ). Marginal regions of T1–T4 depressed in relation to disc, marginal area of T1 slightly longer than 1/3 of length of horizontal surface of tergum measured on median line. Lateral fovea of T2 faint and broad, weakly impressed. Pygidial plate triangular with rounded apex ( Fig. 10 ).

Coloration. Integument mostly black, with weak greenish-blue metallic tints, feeble golden tints also perceptible on mesoscutum and scutellum; F4–F10 dark brown ventrally; mandible with small (about as long as one flagellar diameter) dark ferruginous area just beyond midlength; tarsal claws blackish ferruginous; mouthparts largely, tibial spurs, and strigilis ferruginous; tegula and wing veins blackish brown to black, center of stigma brown; basal half of pygidial plate reddened. Wing membrane moderately, rather uniformly infuscate grayish-brown throughout.

Sculpturing and punctation. Labral surface smooth and slightly asperous, punctures absent except on apical margin. Clypeus mostly smooth and shiny, punctures very dense basally, slightly coarser and much sparser apicad. On paraocular area dense, punctures weakly oblique. Mesoscutum with surface smooth among punctures; punctures moderately coarse and dense (less than one diameter apart), two distinct puncture diameters recognizable; on the median portion of disc sparser (less than one to 1.5 diameters apart); on disc of scutellum punctures much denser, finer toward margins. Metanotum with surface alveolate-punctate. Metapostnotum confused-rugulose laterally, sculpturing sparser medially; inferior half of metapostnotum microrugulose; median longitudinal line ridged; metapostnotum impunctate. Anterior portion of propodeum imbricate-punctate; punctation coarse and moderately sparse (less than one to two diameters apart). T1–T3, surface somewhat asperous between punctures; punctures moderately coarse and very dense (less than one diameter separating punctures) on disc, finer on marginal area; on T4–T5 similar to previous terga, but with finer punctures. Lateral fovea of T2 more asperous than surrounding areas.

Vestiture. Mostly white, except: yellow on apical clypeal fringe, labrum, and ventrally on mandible and tarsi; fuscous on upper frons and vertex, discs of mesoscutum, scutellum and metanotum, dorsal surface of fore and mid tibiae, apex of hind femur (basal fringe of basitibial plate), around basitibial plate (darker next to plate and progressively lighter distad); golden on pre-pygidial fringe of T5, lighter on pygidial fringe of T6 ( Figs. 7, 10 ), and ventrally on S5; light creamy on S1–S4. On head moderately dense, plumose, and long, semi-decumbent on clypeus and lower paraocular area, semierect to erect on remainder of paraocular area, frons and vertex; on disc of mesoscutum short, plumose, and semi-erect to semi-decumbent; on mesosomal pleura long, plumose, and semi-erect; T1–T4 lacking hair bands either on tergal bases or on marginal areas; on S1–S4 apical margins with fringes of long, dense, semi-erect, plumose setae; disc of metasomal sterna covered with a sparse vestiture of short, simple, and erect setae (a layer of large pollen grains covers a good part of the sternal surface, possibly associated to these setae); on outer surface of hind basitarsus, setae moderately short, semi-decumbent, and weakly plumose. Scopa well-developed on hind tibia, constituted by long setae, branched at their distal half and forming a tangle. Femoral corbicula ( sensu Michener, 1999 ), surrounded by moderately long, erect, and plumose setae.

Type series. Holotype (ɗ): “ AUSTRALIA: WA, Badgingarra / Ntl.Prk. 30º21’S; 115º28’E / Almeida, Danforth & Packer / 11.x.2005. on Fabaceae s.l. / aff. Jacksonia sp.”; “ HOLOTYPUS / Andrenopsis / michenerianus Almeida sp.n. [upper band of label colored in red]. Deposited at the Western Australian Museum ( WAM).

Allotype (Ψ): “ AUSTRALIA: WA, Badgingarra / Ntl.Prk. 30º21’S; 115º28’E / Almeida, Danforth & Packer / 11.x.2005. on Fabaceae s.l. / aff. Jacksonia sp.”; “ALLOTYPUS / Andrenopsis / michenerianus Almeida sp.n. [upper band of label colored in yellow]”. Deposited at the Western Australian Museum ( WAM).

Additional paratypes: “ AUSTRALIA: WA, Badgingarra / Ntl.Prk. 30º21’S; 115º28’E / Almeida, Danforth & Packer / 11.x.2005. on Fabaceae s.l. / aff. Jacksonia sp.”, (2 ɗɗ, labels identical). “ PARATYPUS / Andrenopsis / michenerianus Almeida sp.n. [upper band of label colored in yellow]”; one deposited at the Cornell University Insect Collection, Ithaca, USA (CUIC), and one at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Division of Entomology, Lawrence, USA (KUNHM). “ AUSTRALIA, WA / Badgingarra Nat.’l Park / North 10.x.2005 L.Packer”; “ PARATYPUS / Andrenopsis / michenerianus Almeida sp.n. [upper band of label colored in yellow]” (1 ɗ); deposited at the Bee Collection of the Packer Laboratory, Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Canada (PYU).

Comments. Four nuclear gene loci of Andrenopsis michenerianus were sequenced for the phylogenetic study of Almeida and Danforth (in press): elongation factor 1 alpha (F2 copy), LW-rhodopsin, wingless, and 28S rRNA; respective GenBank Accession Numbers of these sequences are: DQ884637 , DQ884538 , DQ884785 , DQ768526 . A. michenerianus was positioned as sister of the other species of Andrenopsis included in the phylogenetic analyses of that study, and the two were placed as sister group of Neopasiphae ( Fig. 1 ; Almeida and Danforth, in press).

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Prof. Charles D. Michener, whose research on Australian bees lead to great advancement on the understanding of the systematics of Paracolletinae .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Summary of phylogenetic relationships within Paracolletinae obtained by Almeida and Danforth (in press). Placement of the genus Paracolletes is uncertain, hence it is omitted (see Almeida & Danforth, in press for discussion). Genera indicated with a star render Leioproctus s. l. (sensu e. g., Michener, 2007) paraphyletic. Results based on the combined analysis of four nuclear protein-coding genes: EF- 1 alpha, LW-rhodopsin, wingless, and 28 S rRNA sampled for 59 species of Paracolletinae. Seven species were used to represent Leioproctus s. str., which grouped into four distinct lineages that clearly indicate the polyphyly of this genus and the need for a comprehensive taxonomic revision of it. The phylogenetic tree shown represents the concordant results of parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses (values next to nodes represent Bayesian posterior probabilities, likelihood, and parsimony bootstrap proportion values, from top to bottom); ‘ n. r. ’ = ‘ not recovered’, i. e., that particular node was not found with that particular method of analysis.

FIGURE 6. Terminalia of male of Andrenopsis michenerianus Almeida, sp. n. (a) Dorsal view of genitalia; (b) ventral view of genitalia; (c) ventral view of S 7; (d) dorsal view of S 8.

FIGURES 2 – 5. Male of Andrenopsis michenerianus Almeida, sp. n. (2) Dorsal aspect; (3) lateral aspect; (4) hind tarsus; (5) face.

FIGURES 7 – 11. Female of Andrenopsis michenerianus Almeida, sp. n. (7) Lateral habitus; (8) dorsal habitus; (9) face; (10) pygidial plate; (11) basitibial plate.

FIGURES 12 – 13. Female of Andrenopsis michenerianus Almeida, sp. n. (12) Wings; (13) lateral view of tarsal claw.